By Jamel Nampijja / GICJ
Children of African descent are exposed to the harsh realities of racism and racial discrimination from an early age. On the 3rd of October 2022, during the 32nd meeting of the 51st session of the Human Rights Council, Ms Catherine Namakula, the Chair of the Working Group on people of African descent (A/HRC/51/54), presented three reports; the annual report on children of African descent and two follow-up reports on country visits to Portugal and Switzerland.
Ms Namakula stated that the Working Group remains outraged by the persistent racially motivated violence and discrimination against people of African descent due to the unresolved legacies of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, segregation, white supremacy, and systematic and institutional racism.
Systemic racism is often evident in contrast between punitive responses experienced by children of African descent and the child-centred responses to the delinquency of white children. Children of African descent are constantly racially profiled and face heavier policing, including more arrests, excessive force during arrests, and unjustifiable strip searches.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) is concerned by the persistence of racially motivated violence against people of African descent.
We stress the importance of continuing dialogue to address racism and violence against people of African descent. We urge States, the United Nations, the international community, and institutions to develop and implement policies specific to race instead of generic anti-discrimination policies.
HRC51, Human Rights Council, Regular Session, Interactive Dialogue, Working Group on People of African Descent, Working Group, People of African Descent, Racism, Discrimination, Justice, Human Rights, Geneva International Center for Justice, GICJ, Geneva4Justice
