Summary: #
In the present report, the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement examines how racial discrimination against Africans and people of African descent permeates all the layers of the criminal justice system, including before, during and after trial. The Mechanism sheds light on procedural shortcomings in criminal proceedings against African defendants and those of African descent due to, inter alia, racial profiling, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, lack of legal representation and unfair convictions. The Mechanism highlights some intersecting factors, such as gender, age, mental health condition, and migration status, as aggravating factors of discrimination. Furthermore, the Mechanism investigates the nexus between racial discrimination and the overrepresentation of Africans and people of African descent in criminal detention. Taking into account promising practices in some States, the Mechanism sets out the 12 key elements of a criminal justice system free from racial discrimination. The present report also includes information on the activities of the Mechanism over the past year.