Background

Operative paragraphs 14 and 15 of Human Rights Council resolution 47/21 request the High Commissioner “…to continue to report on systemic racism, violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies, to contribute to accountability and redress and to take further action globally towards transformative change for racial justice and equality…”; and to prepare a written report on an annual basis. Further, OHCHR refers to the High Commissioner’s Four-Point Agenda towards transformative change for racial justice and equality (found in the annex to A/HRC/47/53).

Objectives and types of input sought

OHCHR invites States and other stakeholders to submit relevant information, notably about intersectional discrimination against Africans and people of African descent and advancing racial justice and equality through an intersectional approach, including with regard to:

• multiple, intersecting and compounding manifestations of systemic racism as experienced by different groups of Africans and people of African descent, in connection with sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, migration status, minority status, disability, religion, socio-economic and other status;
• root causes and drivers of intersectional discrimination against Africans and people of African descent, including relating to stereotypes and other structural, institutional and historical dimensions;
• actions by States and others to advance racial justice and equality through an intersectional approach, including in relation to:
  • the design, implementation and evaluation of laws, policies, programmes, action plans, special measures, processes and other initiatives relating to health, education, employment, housing, law enforcement and the criminal justice system, and other sectors;
  • efforts to enhance participation of Africans and people of African descent in public affairs; and
  • measures to contribute to accountability and redress, including for the legacies of enslavement and colonialism.

See the call for inputs in English, Français, Español and Portuguese.

Unless otherwise specified, all contributions will be made available in full and as received on the public OHCHR website. Kindly indicate if the submission contains names, images or other information that should not be posted on the public OHCHR website. Please note that not all information shared will necessarily be reflected in the final report and that information falling outside the mandate will not be considered.