This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Published on June 16, 2020, African nations are seeking a United Nations inquiry into racism and police brutality in the United States, citing recent incidents of police violence against peaceful protesters.
The move comes after the death of George Floyd, an African American, in police custody in Minneapolis last month. Floyd's death sparked widespread protests worldwide.
A draft resolution seen by Reuters calls for an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate systemic racism, alleged human rights violations, and abuses against Africans and people of African descent in the US and other parts of the world.
The commission would examine federal, state, and local government responses to peaceful protests, including the alleged use of excessive force against protesters, bystanders, and journalists.
The United States, which quit the UN Human Rights Council two years ago, has not commented on the proposed inquiry.
The UN Human Rights Council has already established commissions of inquiry or fact-finding missions into human rights violations in several countries, including Syria, Burundi, Myanmar, South Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
