UN chief of rights demands “dismantling” of systemic racism

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UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called on nations to “start dismantling racism” following her report on racism in the world. The report concludes that police brutality is ingrained in many countries and that racism creates barriers to jobs, healthcare, housing, education and justice. He revealed that at least 190 black people around the world have been killed by law enforcement officers over the past decade, mostly in the United States. It calls for the creation of compensation and reparation programs for victims. The report was commissioned following the murder of George Floyd.

Nations should “start dismantling racism” and prosecute law enforcement officials for unlawful killings, UN human rights chief said on June 28, denouncing systemic racism against people of African descent in many parts of the world.

Michelle Bachelet, in a global report triggered by the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020, said police use of racial profiling and excessive force is ingrained across much of America from North, Europe and Latin America.

Structural racism creates barriers to minorities’ access to employment, health care, housing, education and justice, she said.

“I call on all states to stop denying and start dismantling racism; end impunity and build confidence; to listen to the voices of people of African descent; and confront the legacies of the past and bring redress, ”she said in a report. .

The report called for the creation of victim compensation and reparation programs, including payments, at the national level, with input from affected communities.

Bachelet hailed a “promising initiative” by US President Joe Biden by signing an executive order in January to tackle racial inequalities in the United States.

At least 190 people of African descent have died around the world at the hands of law enforcement officials over the past decade – most in the United States, according to the report.

“With the exception of George Floyd’s case, no one has been held responsible,” Mona Rishmawi, head of the rule of law branch that led the report, told a press conference.

He selected seven “emblematic cases”, including that of Floyd. A judge on Friday sentenced former policeman Derek Chauvin to 22 and a half for his murder, the video of which galvanized the national protest movement Black Lives Matter.

Other victims include an Afro-Brazilian boy, 14, shot dead during an anti-drug police operation in Sao Paulo in May 2020 and a Frenchman of Malian origin, 24, who died in police custody in July 2016. .

“One (Brazilian) mother in particular told us’ you still talk about George Floyd. Every day we have a George Floyd here and nobody talks about it, “” said Rishmawi. “We realized that we were only touching the tip of the iceberg.”

Racism is more prevalent in countries linked to the former trade of around 25-30 million Africans for slavery or colonialism, resulting in large communities of people of African descent in countries like Brazil , Britain, Canada, Colombia, France and the United States, according to the report.

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent social and political unrest have created a deep sense of urgency for businesses to actively work to tackle inequality.

The work of the Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Social Justice Forum is driven by the New Economy and Society platform, which focuses on building prosperous, inclusive and just economies and societies. In addition to its work on economic growth, recovery and transformation, work, wages and job creation, and education, skills and learning, the platform takes an integrated and holistic approach to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, and aims to address exclusion, prejudice and discrimination related to race, gender, ability, sexual orientation and all other forms of human diversity.

The platform produces data, standards and information, such as the Global Gender Gap Report and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 4.0 Toolkit, and drives or supports action initiatives, such as Partnering for Racial Justice in Business, The Valuable 500 Closing the Disability Inclusion Gap, Hardwiring Gender Parity in the Future of Work, Closing the Gender Gap Country Accelerators, Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality, Community of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officers and Global Future Council on Equity and Social Justice.

“Systemic racism needs a systemic response,” Bachelet said. “There is a momentous opportunity today to make a turning point for racial equality and justice.”

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