Calls for Law Against Racial Profiling and an End to Juvenile Life Without Parole

CHICAGO, May 8 - Today, the formal report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance – Dr. Doudou Diene of Senegal – was released on the website of the Human Rights Council. The report provides an overview of the Rapporteur’s official mission to the United States in May-June 2008 where his mandate was to monitor, advise, and publicly report on human rights situations in the country. Upon completion of his mission, Dr. Diene formulates several recommendations, including: 

(a) Congress establish a bipartisan commission to evaluate the progress and failures in the fight against racism and the ongoing process of resegregation, particularly in housing and education, and to find responses to check these trends;

(b) The Government reassess existing legislation on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in view of two main guidelines: addressing the overlapping nature of poverty and race or ethnicity; and linking the fight against racism to the construction of a democratic, egalitarian and interactive multiculturalism, in order to strengthen inter-community relations;

(c) The Government should intensify its efforts to enforce federal civil rights laws;

(d) The Government clarify to law enforcement officials the obligation of equal treatment and, in particular, the prohibition of racial profiling.

 
During his three-week mission to the U.S., the Rapporteur visited New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, Omaha, Honolulu, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dr. Diene met with federal and local officials, lawmakers, and judicial authorities, along with representatives from civil society organizations and victims. The main objective of this visit was for the Rapporteur to “gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.”

The Midwest Coalition, in partnership with a number of it's member organizations played a key role in organizing the Rapporteur's site visits in both Chicago and Omaha. A number of our members also provided testimony on various issues at public hearings organized to brief the Rapporteur. A full account of MCHR's involvement, including videos from the public hearing in Chicago, is available here.

The Special Rapporteur's report will be presented at the 11th session of the Human Rights Council next month.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on Racism (May 2009):

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/11session/A.HRC.11.36.Add.3.pdf

By Trisha Chokshi, MCHR Staff
05/08/09