Background

The United Nations Special Rapporteur contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Ms. Ashwini K.P, will conduct an official country visit to the United States of America in November 2023. The findings of her visit will be presented in a public report to the United Nations Human Rights Council in June 2024.

Objectives

The inputs provided by stakeholders will help the Special Rapporteur to set the priorities for her visit. In her report summarising her visit, the Special Rapporteur will offer concrete recommendations to support the Government’s efforts to address contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Key questions

Below are key questions that the Special Rapporteur would appreciate inputs on from stakeholders. Inputs can address these questions from both the federal perspective and/or provide information about particular states. Other relevant information may also be included in your submissions.

• What are the key trends in racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including systemic racism, in the United States of America, including the experiences of those, such as women, persons from religious minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTI persons and/or migrants, who experience intersectional discrimination?
• What are the key civil and political rights issues affecting those from racially marginalised groups, including, but not limited to, hate crimes and hate speech, racism in the context of law enforcement and the criminal justice system and barriers to accessing voting rights?
• What are the key economic, social and cultural rights issues affecting those from racially marginalised groups, including, but not limited to, in the context of access to housing, healthcare, including maternal and reproductive services, education and food? 
• What legislative, policy and institutional frameworks, are in place to address different forms racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at both the federal and state level? How effective are these frameworks at addressing such phenomena? What are the key gaps in these frameworks? What are the latest developments vis-à-vis these legislative, policy and institutional frameworks?
• What is the scope of special measures to advance racial equality (affirmative action) in the United States? How effectively are such special measures being implemented?
• How do the legacies of the past, including slavery and colonialism, impact contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance? What measures have been taken to redress the legacies of the past, including slavery and colonialism?
• What are the lived experiences of those who seek access to justice and remedy for racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance? What are the key barriers to accessing justice and remedy?

How inputs will be used

Submissions may be posted on the mandate’s website. Should you wish to maintain the confidentiality of your submission, kindly clearly indicate this at the time of your submission.

For more information on the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, and the activities of the mandate, please click here.