After the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) reviewed the U.S. racial justice record, the United Nations human rights office issued a statement in which CERD Expert and Country Rapporteur Faith Dikeledi Pansy Tlakula recounted her observation that the country’s gun homicide rate has been rising, especially among black men. black and in poor communities.
While acknowledging the steps that have been taken to tackle gun violence, Tlakula wonders what is being done to address the “differentiated impact” on racial and ethnic minorities as well as indigenous peoples.
Anti-racism protesters in Brooklyn, New York, demonstrate for justice for the murder of African-American George Floyd.
Lacking federal coordination
Amid a significant increase in hate crimes against ethnic minorities, the Committee welcomed recent US legislation, such as the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, but questioned why the country had not yet instituted a coordinating mechanism, such as a national human rights agency. .
Tlakula said the Committee had repeatedly expressed concern over the lack of such a mechanism, and asked what steps had been taken to create a permanent and effective coordination mechanism at the federal level. On the same subject : ACC and Pac-12 Discuss ‘Loose Partnership’ That Could Include ‘Championship Game’ in Las Vegas.
The committee has noted that the US is aware of its recommendations to establish a national human rights agency and will consider them to the extent that they are enforceable under Joe Biden’s presidency.
Police reform
The committee has also pointed out that the country ensures accountability around the use of force, noting that the Department of Homeland Security has enforced strict standards of behavior for police officers.
Additionally, a department-wide use of force policy, which emphasizes respect for human life, was released in 2018, and updated in 2021. To see also : The Special Committee on the Initiation Approves the Value of Call for the United States to Improve the System for Self-Determination Puerto Rico, Ultimate Independence | Conference and Prayer Articles.
And police training has been provided in de-escalation, use of force, and border fence patrols.
The US Office of Civil Rights and Liberties also investigates cases of excessive use of force and tracks them via online dashboards, with more than 600 such incidents recorded so far this year.
Recommendation implementation
In his closing remarks, Tlakula had told the Committee that uncomfortable conversations and concrete actions were needed “to dispel the specter of racism”. Read also : Trump Moves More Than $ 1 Million From His Political Group To His Personal Business After Losing Election.
He also expressed hope that the state would continue to hold consultations with civil society, maintaining that they would lead to progress in implementing the Committee’s recommendations.
US delegation responds
The US ambassador to the Human Rights Council and head of the delegation, Michèle Taylor, has acknowledged that the US needs to do better in eliminating racial discrimination, and is “deeply committed” to using all the levers at its disposal to do so.
The US State Department’s Special Representative for Racial Equality and Justice and deputy leader of the delegation, Desirée Cormier Smith, have said the country shares the Committee’s vision for ongoing efforts to eliminate racial discrimination. He also expressed sadness that ethnic and racial minorities still need to fight for the freedoms enjoyed by the white population.
Administrative points
The Committee will issue its conclusions on the United States report after the session ends on August 30.
A summary of the Committee’s general meeting can be found here, and a web broadcast here.
Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council to examine and report back on specific human rights themes or country situations. These positions are honorary and experts are not paid for their work.
