The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) held an urgent debate 17 June 2020, in response to allegations relating to “systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests”. The debate was held at the request of Burkina Faso, on behalf of the African nations group. The request highlighted how the recent death of George Floyd was “not an isolated incident,” and how the subsequent international outrage made it even more important for the HRC to address these issues.
During the debate, the Council witnessed a pre-recorded appeal by Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, pushing for the Council to investigate police brutality and racism in the United States. Whilst the resolution did originally call for such an investigation into the US and elsewhere, it was later modified to call for a report on the issues.
THE REPORT
The primary result of the resolution is the call for a report on “systemic racism, violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies”. UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Michele Bachelet, will prepare the report and will also investigate theresponses of governments to peaceful anti-racism protests, including allegations of the use of excessive force against protestors, bystanders, and journalists. UN-appointed independent rights experts and committees will assist Bachelet.
THE US RESPONSE
In response to the resolution, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused the Council of hypocrisy, describing the resolution as a “new low’” that reaffirmed the decision of the US to withdraw from the forum in 2018. Pompeo referred to the Council as a “haven for dictators and democracies that indulge them,” noting how Venezuela, Cuba, and China are all members.
The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 by US police officers galvanised the Black Lives Matter movement, with protests erupting across the globe. Activists continue to call for significant reforms to policing, including defunding the police and re-investing the funds in communities. Minneapolis, the city where Floyd was killed, is in the process of such law enforcement reform, although the legislature has not yet agreed on a proposal.
Police brutality is a major global issue and disproportionately affects Black people. In the US, analysis by The Washington Post demonstrated that Black Americans are killed by police at more than twice the rate of their white counterparts. Even despite the fresh scrutiny of law enforcement agencies in the wake of Floyd’s murder, police violence against African Americans has continued: in just one example, Rayshard Brooks was shot by police in Atlanta on 12 June 2020, leading to the firing of the officer in question.
Rhiannon is an LLB student at Swansea University, who intends to pursue a career at the Bar of England and Wales. She has particular interests in criminal and human rights law. She has sat on the committee of her university’s Bar Society and is incoming President of its Feminist Society.