UN racial justice experts have recently concluded that a significant level of impunity persists for officials using excessive force against Africans and people of African descent, thereby hindering justice and reparations for victims and enabling the recurrence of such actions. The findings form part of an annual report by the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement (EMLER), titled “Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers.” The report details persistent issues such as racial profiling, harassment, and disproportionate usage of non-lethal weapons which contribute to the systemic racism pervasive within global law enforcement.
In the United States, the report highlights that approximately 37% of the incarcerated population is of African descent, despite this demographic constituting just 13% of the overall population. This significant overrepresentation is attributed to policies granting expansive powers to police, including stop-and-frisk laws, which disproportionately target African American and Latino individuals. Research from The Prison Policy Initiative further elucidates how these policies contribute to racial disparities despite higher rates of arrest and weapons possession among white individuals.
To address these issues and promote equitable treatment, the mechanism suggests reforms in three key areas:
- Implementation of robust reporting, review, and investigation procedures
- Establishment of independent civilian oversight bodies
- Creation of independent mechanisms to support victims and affected communities
The global outcry against police brutality and the treatment of Africans and people of African descent has manifested prominently through movements such as Black Lives Matter. The death of George Floyd in 2020 sparked international protests, some of which faced severe suppression, as seen in the recent rally in Paris protesting the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old North African boy, resulting in over 3,000 arrests before the protest was banned by police authorities.
The ongoing global discontent concerning systemic racism in law enforcement shaped the establishment of EMLER in 2021. The mechanism aims to further transform and promote racial justice and equality within law enforcement globally, particularly in contexts affected by the legacies of colonialism and the Transatlantic slave trade. EMLER engages in comprehensive examinations of government responses to anti-racism protests and other breaches of international human rights law, striving to ensure accountability and redress for victims.
For a more detailed account, the full report and findings can be accessed here.