UN human rights experts begin US tour focusing on racial justice and policing - The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/24/un-human-rights-experts-racial-justice-policing
A team of United Nations experts has arrived in the US on a tour that will focus on racial justice, law enforcement and policing.
On Monday, the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the Context of Law Enforcement, an independent panel appointed by the UN human rights council, began its two-week visit to the US.
The panel, which was established in response to widespread outcry following the killing of the Black man George Floyd in 2020 by a white police officer, is set to visit Washington DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and New York City.
Floyds death was just one of many instances of racist killings by police in the US but spurred by powerful video shot by bystanders it triggered widespread protests across America, which then spread internationally.
The UN trip is to further transformative change for racial justice and equality in the context of law enforcement for Africans and people of African descent, said the UN.
In addition to visiting government officials at federal, state and local levels, the team will also visit law enforcement authorities, civil society organizations and places of detentions.
We look forward to gaining first-hand insight about the lived experiences of people of African descent in the United States, and to offer recommendations to the government at all levels, to support efforts in combating systemic racism and excessive use of force, and ensure accountability and justice, Juan Méndez, a panel member said in a statement.