“You in the United Nations are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. I am asking you to help me get justice.”Our nation has been at protest for far beyond the nearly 100 days that have passed since George Floyd's murder; for generations, our neighbors, community members, friends, and loved ones have struggled for justice, support, and their inherent right to life.
-Philonise Floyd
Recent violence and heartbreak in Kenosha, Wisconsin is a tragic reminder that our work to advance universal human rights and dignity is far from over.
UNA-NCA's Advocacy Team has produced a new report on the UN, the US, and Anti-Racism, documenting the UN's role in the global fight against racism. This report offers a foundation from which we can thoughtfully deliberate the future we hope to collaboratively forge.
Access the report here.
Report Excerpt:
"Through its Resolutions, Declarations, and Conventions, the UN has long cultivated a landscape of diverse legal instruments in support of its anti-racism agenda. The movement sparked in Minneapolis presents a critical opportunity for the United Nations to propel its anti-racism crusade forward.Over twenty senior leaders in the UN, including the head of the World Health Organization and Executive-Director of UNAIDS, resoundingly declared that “now is the time to move from words to deeds.” Their statement calls on the United Nations to lead by example with “an honest assessment” of how it upholds the UN Charter. The current movement of reckoning also presents Member States with a critical opportunity to evaluate their compliance to international law and submit comprehensive reviews to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Systemic racism must be acknowledged at all levels – international, national, and local. International instruments for reform instituted by the United Nations can in turn serve as critical frameworks and mechanisms through which local stakeholders can advocate for anti-racist legislation. The UN’s arsenal of legal precedent against racism in any form can guide U.S. attempts to reform racist policies and practices, representing a toolkit for a new, equitable future."
Additional Advocacy Resources:
The UN Human Rights Council Urgent Debate: What You Need to KnowThe US, the UN, and Police Violence
Spotlight on SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
