UN experts concerned about “structural racism” in UK

CAIRO – 30 April 2018: United Nations (UN) human rights experts have expressed concern over increased rates of racist crimes in the UK, explaining that racism is deeply rooted in the fabric of the UK society.

The experts highlighted that further improvements are required to prevent structural crimes against people of African descent and ethnic minorities, who are dying as a result of excessive use of force by security forces. Their proposed improvements included enhancement of healthcare in police custody, investigation and providing legal aid and support to suspects’ families.

“The deaths reinforce the experiences of structural racism, over-policing and criminalization of people of African descent and other minorities in the UK,” said the UN human rights experts according to a statement published at the UN official website.

The panel of UN experts is led by Michal Balcerzak, on behalf of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; E. Tendayi Achiume, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Catalina Devandas, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities; Dainius Puras, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Achiume, who is appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report on racism, is expected to visit the UK from April 30 to May 11 in response to an invitation by the government.

The experts also highlighted that use of force including firearms, tear gas agents, long handed batons, electroshock weapons and denial of access to appropriate healthcare led in many situations to suspects’ death. They revealed that data released by the Metropolitan Police in August 2017 showed that people of African descent and those belonging to ethnic minority groups, in particular young African and Caribbean men, were twice as likely to die after the use of force by police officers and denial of access to appropriate healthcare.

“Failure to properly investigate and prosecute such deaths results in a lack of accountability for those individuals and State agencies responsible, as well as in the denial of adequate remedies and reparation for the families of the victims,” said the experts according to the UN official website.

The UK government announced that it had commissioned the Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody to implement the recommendations of the UN human rights experts report.