UN rights council to debate on racism, police violence
GENEVA: The United Nations’ top human rights body agreed on Monday to a request from African countries to urgently debate racism and police brutality this week, following unrest in the US and beyond over George Floyd’s death.
As the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council resumed after breaking in March over the coronavirus pandemic, its president Elisabeth Tichy-fisslberger proposed to hold the debate on Wednesday. “I can see no objections. It is therefore so decided.”
It is only the fifth time in the council’s 14-year history that it has agreed to hold an “urgent debate”, which is a special debate agreed upon within a regular session of the council.
US: SHOOTING OF BLACK MAN RULED A HOMICIDE
The death of Rayshard Brooks, a black man killed by a white police officer in Atlanta on Friday, was a homicide caused by gunshot wounds to the back, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office said on Sunday.
Brooks’ death reignited protests in Atlanta after days of worldwide demonstrations against racism and police brutality prompted by the death of George Floyd, an African American, in Minneapolis police custody on May 25. An autopsy conducted on Sunday showed that Brooks, 27, died from blood loss and organ injuries caused by two gunshot wounds. The manner of his death was homicide, a statement said.
UK WILL SET UP RACISM COMMISSION, SAYS PM
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced he will establish a commission to look at racial equality in the UK, after two weeks of protests spurred by the death of George Floyd in US.
Johnson said the new body would investigate “discrimination in the education system, in health, in the criminal justice system”.
FRENCH PREZ REJECTS REMOVAL OF STATUES
President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Sunday that France would not seek to erase elements of its history or take down statues of controversial public figures, despite growing global scrutiny of former colonial powers. Macron said France would be “uncompromising” in its fight against racism after days of protests over alleged prejudice among police forces.