UN rights council orders probe into global racism

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GENEVA

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) on Tuesday highlighted the global “scourge” of systemic racism and ordered an independent investigation into racially-fuelled police violence around the world.

In a resolution brought by a group of African countries, the council harshly condemned “continuing racially discriminatory and violent practices perpetrated by many law enforcement officials against Africans and people of African descent.”

The text, which was adopted without a vote, decried “systemic racism in the law enforcement and criminal justice systems,” and the need to bring offenders to justice.

It ordered the creation of an “international independent expert mechanism” to “advance racial justice and equality in the context of law enforcement in all parts of the world.”

The experts, who will be appointed by the council president with a three-year mandate, will be asked to conduct country visits and to consult with states and affected communities and individuals.