OHCHR’s work on racism

The struggle against racism is at the heart of the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. OHCHR is reponsible for the following activities:

Taking stock of and monitoring progress on accountability and redress for systemic racism

In the wake of the George Floyd murder that set off the Black Lives Matter movement in the summer of 2020, the Human Rights Council called for an urgent debate on “current racially inspired human rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests”. Through Human Rights Council Resolution 43/1, the UN High Commissioner is mandated to look at systemic racism and human rights violations by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent, and to contribute to accountability and redress for victims.

Read more about the implementation of resolution 43/1 and the agenda towards transformative change for racial justice and equality.

Coordinating the programme of activities for the International Decade of People of African Descent 2015-2024

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is mandated to coordinate, monitor and compile actions undertaken worldwide for the 2015-2024 International Decade for People of African Descent, a UN-sponsored commemorative Decade.

UN Human Rights also manages the annual fellowship programme established as part of the Decade’s activities. So far the fellowship has helped to empower more than 80 fellows from 32 countries.

UN Human Rights works closely with the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on outreach and awareness raising.

Read more about the International Decade of People of African Descent.

Conducting thematic research, providing technical cooperation

The Office also conducts thematic research and provides technical guidance on preventing and combating racism and racial discrimination. Some examples include:

• Support to the United Nations Network on racial discrimination and the protection of minorities;
• Technical cooperation on promoting national action plans against racial discrimination;
• OHCHR Anti-Discrimination database
• Reviewing and advising on comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation; and
• Organizing institutional strengthening programs for Governments, NHRIs and CSOs.

Supporting the UN anti-racism architecture

In addition, our Office provides extensive support to all the mechanisms who contribute to fighting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance within the UN Human Rights system as a whole, including:

• Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
• Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism
• Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
• Ad-Hoc Committee on the elaboration of complementary standards
• Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
• Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (OHCHR | Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement)
• Permanent Forum on people of African Descent