A/HRC/14/18
120. The Working Group underscores the importance of collecting disaggregated
data to render structural discrimination against people of African descent more
visible, thereby facilitating the adoption of adequate policies to combat such
discrimination, including affirmative or positive measures. At the same time, the
Working Group deems necessary the adoption of measures to prevent the possible
misuse and negative impact of disaggregated data.
121. The Working Group regrets that many people of African descent do not have
access to quality health care as they are unable to afford health insurance due to the
situation of poverty they endure.
122. The Working Group stresses the need to address the overrepresentation of
people of African descent who are subject to the criminal justice system, including
mental institutions and the child welfare system, as well as double standards in
sentencing. The Working Group notes the prevalence of structural discrimination,
severely affecting persons of African descent, at all stages and levels of the
administration of justice, including, inter alia, legislation, law enforcement, courts and
tribunals. This has far-reaching consequences in terms of poverty, education and
employment and undermines the fundamental democratic principles of political
participation.
B.
Recommendations
123. The Working Group urges States and specialized agencies of the United
Nations, as appropriate, to implement, as a priority, the provisions pertaining to
people of African descent in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and
the Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference, as well as previous
recommendations of the Working Group.
124. The Working Group recommends the establishment within OHCHR of an
observatory to review and report on progress in the implementation by Member
States and specialized agencies of the United Nations, as appropriate, of the Durban
Declaration and Programme of Action and the Outcome Document of the Durban
Review Conference, as well as recommendations by the Durban follow-up
mechanisms pertaining to people of African descent.
125. The Working Group calls on the United Nations to promote further discussion
on the use of the term “Afrophobia” in its work in order to highlight the special and
unique discrimination faced by people of African descent.
126. The Working Group calls upon States to earmark contributions to the Trust
Fund for the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial
Discrimination (Durban Fund) to fund the participation of civil society, including
relevant NGOs, in its sessions.
127. The Working Group urges States to adopt special measures, including
affirmative or positive measures, based on disaggregated data, as appropriate, to
address structural discrimination against people of African descent, taking into
account general recommendation No. 32 (2009) adopted by the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
128. The Working Group urges States to address disparities in access to health and
quality of health care between people of African descent and other population groups,
more specifically by addressing the differential access to insurance coverage in health
care.
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