In a recent address at the United Nations, UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang highlighted the persistent issue of racism and discrimination, despite a decade of international efforts. Yang spoke candidly about the deeply entrenched nature of these issues during a high-level meeting marking the conclusion of the International Decade for People of African Descent, warning that significant work remains to address the enduring legacies of enslavement and colonialism.
Yang has advocated for considering a Second International Decade to sustain and build upon the progress made thus far. The necessity for ongoing efforts is supported by UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris, who emphasized the importance of enacting new laws and policies to recognize the contributions of Afro-descendants.
Despite these efforts, a report released by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights earlier this year painted a grim picture of systemic racism within the United States, particularly highlighting police brutality and criminal justice disparities affecting African Americans. These findings underscore the stark reality of racial disparities in policing, as evidenced by the tragic death of George Floyd in 2020, which sparked widespread protests and calls for change.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) further corroborates these observations, citing patterns of impunity and ineffective state responses to police violence against Afro-descendants in the United States. African Americans, they noted, disproportionally account for 38 percent of the incarcerated population, despite being only 13 percent of the national populace.
Additional challenges were unearthed in a joint report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the OHCHR, which highlighted the exacerbation of existing inequalities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscored increased risks for Afro-descendants in Latin America and the Caribbean, concerning healthcare access and economic stability.
The original article on this topic, providing further context and details, is available here.