The President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji, announced today the appointment of Justice Yvonne Mokgoro of South Africa, Tracie L. Keesee of the United States and Juan Mendez of Argentina to serve as members of a recently established body tasked with advancing racial justice and equality in law enforcement in all parts of the world. Justice Mokgoro will serve as chairperson of the new body.

In its resolution adopted on 13 July 2021, the Human Rights Council decided to establish an international independent expert mechanism, comprised of three experts with law enforcement and human rights expertise, to be appointed by the Council President, to examine systemic racism and the excessive use of force, and other violations of international human rights law, against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement officials worldwide. 

The three-member body is mandated to examine the “root causes of systemic racism in law enforcement and the criminal justice system, …racial profiling and other human rights violations by law enforcement officials against Africans and people of African descent”.  The experts will also explore how “domestic law, policy and practices may lead to disproportionate and widespread interaction between law enforcement officers and Africans and people of African descent”. 

The experts, who have been given a three-year mandate, will also investigate governments’ responses to peaceful anti-racism protests, and make recommendations on the concrete steps needed “to ensure access to justice, accountability and redress for excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement against Africans and people of African descent”.  

Through its unanimous resolution, Human Rights Council members requested the newly established expert body to report to the 51st session of the Council, scheduled to take place in September/October 2022, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and that the report be transmitted to the UN General Assembly.