UN council reviews US human rights record News
UN council reviews US human rights record

[JURIST] The UN Human Rights Council [official website] on Monday reviewed the US human rights record as part of its Universal Periodic Reviews, expressing concern [press release] over excessive use of force by law enforcement, racial discrimination, and minority rights, particularly for African Americans. Participating nations recommended the US eliminate excessive use of force by police, work to ensure minority groups are fully guaranteed rights, and prevent racial profiling and discrimination in all forms, including by law enforcement. The US should also address the impact of violence that falls disproportionately on minority groups and low income persons. Some of the other issues raised during the review included surveillance and Guantanamo Bay [JURIST backgrounder]. The council recommended the US ensure surveillance laws respect the right to privacy, and to close the facilities at Guantanamo. The US was recognized for positive achievements in regards to gay rights rights and access to health care.

UN recommendations to end excessive use of force and racial discrimination were handed down after several police killings of unarmed black men have increased racial tension in the country. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch [official website] on Friday announced the launch of a federal civil rights investigation [JURIST report] into Baltimore’s police. Earlier this month, the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City charged six police officers [JURIST report] with crimes including murder and manslaughter over the death of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray while he was in police custody. In January Judge Edgar Dickson of the South Carolina Circuit Court declared a mistrial [JURIST report] in the murder case against a former police chief for the 2011 killing of an unarmed black man. After a grand jury decided not to indict [JURIST report] the Ferguson, Missouri police officer who last year shot and killed Micheal Brown, an African American teenager, there was a large uproar from the Ferguson community that led to mass protests and violence in some instances. The case had reached international news with AI reporting [JURIST report] human rights abuses by Ferguson Police in late October. In early October a federal judge ruled [JURIST report] that the police tactics used on protesters was unconstitutional and issued a preliminary injunction. The American Civil Liberties Union [advocacy website] also published a report [JURIST report] arguing that increased militarization of police forces is putting citizens at risk rather than protecting them.