Canada: UN expert panel warns of systemic anti-Black racism in the criminal justice
OTTAWA / GENEVA (21 October 2016) – The United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent today
expressed serious concerns about systemic anti-Black racism in the criminal justice system in Canada.
“There is clear evidence that racial profiling is endemic in the strategies and practices used by law enforcement,” said
Ricardo Sunga, who currently heads the expert panel, at the end of its official visit* to the country. “Arbitrary use of
‘carding’ or street checks disproportionately affects people of African descent.”
“We urge the Government to develop and implement an African Canadian Justice Strategy to address the anti-Black racism
and discrimination within the criminal justice system,” Mr. Sunga stated.
From 17 to 21 October, a delegation of the Working Group visited Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and Montreal to gain
first-hand knowledge on racial discrimination, Afrophobia, xenophobia, and related intolerance affecting
African-Canadians.
“In our conversation with African Canadians, we found that Canada’s history of enslavement, racial segregation, and
marginalization, has had a deleterious impact on people of African descent which must be addressed in partnership with
African Canadian communities,” Mr. Sunga stressed.
The delegation, which also included human rights experts Michal Balcerzak and Ahmed Reid, welcomed ongoing efforts by
the new administration to revitalize efforts to address racial discrimination faced by people of African descent and to
promote human rights, diversity and inclusion in partnership with African Canadian communities and civil society
organizations promoting the rights of people African descent.
“We welcome, among other measures, the recent establishment of the Anti-Racism Directorate to address systemic racism
and promote fair practices and policies across Ontario province,” Mr. Sunga said.
During the five-day mission, the human rights experts met representatives of the Canadian Federal and Provincial
Governments, Members of Parliament, representatives of national and provincial human rights institutions and civil
society.
They also promoted the International Decade for People of African Descent, which runs from 2015 to 2024, and aims both
to highlight the contribution of people of African descent to societies and strengthen national, regional and
international cooperation to ensure the human rights of people of African descent are respected, protected and fulfilled
(Learn more: http://www.un.org/en/events/africandescentdecade/).
The Working Group will present a report containing its findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in
September 2017.
(*) Check the Working Group’s full end-of-mission statement: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20732=E
ENDS