New case study on ISHR Academy: How human rights defenders advanced racial justice at the UN

The case study showcases how civil society’s efforts have led to a wide range of measurable impacts across the UN, including:

• Urgent debates at the Human Rights Council on systemic racism and police violence;
• Official reports and recommendations from UN Special Procedures and Treaty Bodies addressing racial justice;
• Engagement with the Universal Periodic Review and the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, strengthening states accountability;
• Support from regional mechanisms, such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, reinforcing calls for reparations and systemic reform.

Following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May 2020, civil society organisations such as the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), HRCnet, the US Human Rights Network, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have actively coordinated and consulted, pushing for meaningful action at the UN on systemic racism and police violence. Our new case study spotlights how these efforts have translated into strategic advocacy resulting in concrete outcomes at the UN. By convening strategy sessions, these organisations have provided human rights defenders with vital platforms to voice their expectations and priorities to the Human Rights Council. These efforts were pivotal in creating the UN Antiracism Coalition (UNARC), which successfully advocated for the “George Floyd resolution” and the establishment of an innovative mechanism: the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement. 

This story shows how human rights defenders play an indispensable role in sustaining advocacy, amplifying the voices of people of African descent and ensuring that issues of systemic racism, inequality, and police violence remain visible on international agendas. By coordinating efforts and effectively engaging with UN and regional mechanisms, civil society organisations are not only keeping the fight for racial justice alive but also driving changes that advance equality.

Read the story here on ISHR Academy to learn more!

You can find more stories of UN engagement here.