A/HRC/27/68
Resource Guide, available from http://libraryresources.unog.ch/africandescent, was
formally launched during the programme of talks. It provided links to the most relevant
United Nations documents on people of African descent, including resolutions, reports,
declarations and treaties. People of African descent were of specific interest to the United
Nations because of the discrimination they continued to suffer even after the end of the
historical slave trade. The Online Resource Guide also highlighted the collections of the
Library on the topic, both print and online resources, which consisted of books, articles,
journals and databases. In addition, librarians had selected key websites in order to keep the
Online Resource Guide up-to-date on the subject. The programme of talks was attended by
over 80 representatives of Member States, NGOs, United Nations officials and the media.
39.
To support the proposal for the International Decade for People of African Descent,
the Library of the United Nations Office at Geneva had organized a special exhibition
entitled “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”. The exhibition
had been opened in August 2013 and would run until May 2014.
V.
Conclusions and recommendations
40.
The Working Group concluded its fourteenth session. The theme for the
session, “People of African descent: access to justice”, was drawn from the broader
theme, “Recognition, Justice and Development”, proposed by the Working Group in
its draft programme of action for the International Decade for People of African
Descent.
41.
The rationale for the focus of the fourteenth session is that the legacies of the
slave trade, enslavement, colonialism, racial hierarchy and inequality are reflected
even today in the justice system.
42.
The Working Group records its appreciation to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights for her intervention at the fourteenth session and
her support for the draft programme of action for the International Decade for People
of African Descent.
A.
Conclusions
43.
The Working Group underlines the importance of questioning the very concept
of justice in all fields, and the need to broaden the definition of justice to include social
justice, access to justice and the application of the legal system to address historical
injustices.
44.
The Working Group is concerned that the principles of restorative justice are
not applied in addressing access to justice for people of African descent.
45.
The Working Group emphasizes that there can be no exceptions to the
criminalization of discrimination, which applies in the public and private spheres, to
social, economic and cultural rights, civil and political rights and environmental
rights. The Working Group is concerned about the prevalence of impunity and the
lack of accountability in addressing discrimination against people of African descent
in public and private spheres under the guise of freedom of expression.
46.
The Working Group underlines the importance of mapping injustices at the
national and regional levels. It re-emphasizes the conclusions of its twelfth session,
which itself focused on recognition of people of African descent, and reiterates that
mapping injustices cannot be done without the collection of disaggregated data.
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