International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence against People of African Descent in the United States

In June 2020, the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) strongly condemned “the continuing racially discriminatory and violent practices perpetrated by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent,” noting in particular the death of George Floyd on 25 May 2020 in Minnesota, and the deaths of other people of African descent. The HRC also condemned structural racism in the criminal justice system and, by Resolution A/HRC/RES/43/1, mandated the High Commissioner to prepare a report on systemic racism, and violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies globally. Recognizing that killings and maimings of unarmed Black people by police authorities in the United States escalate unabated and that effective domestic remedies are either non-existent or exacerbated by the policies of the federal government of the United States, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL), and the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) decided to convene this International Commission of Inquiry. Hearings for the Commission took place between January 18 and February 6, 2021. The Commission issued a Final Report of its findings for submission to the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, relevant officials, and the public.