Africa-Press – Botswana. The United States of America (USA) pledged yesterday to the United Nations (UN) to strengthen the fight against racial discrimination, and left open the question of reparations after centuries of racism that Washington described as “systemic”.
“We must continue to make strong and concerted efforts to eliminate the scourge of racial discrimination in our country,” said the US State Department’s Special Representative for Racial Equality and Justice, Desiree Cormier Smith, quoted by Lusa.
Addressing the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which for two days examined the American record in this area, the representative underlined Washington’s commitment to “eliminate systemic racism”, but acknowledged that “there is still there is a lot to do”.
Desiree Cormier Smith, of African American origin, co-chaired the large American delegation.
Comprised of 18 experts, this committee is responsible for monitoring at regular intervals the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by Member States, ratified by the US in 1994. The conclusions will be published on the 30th of this month.
US officials were questioned about topics such as police brutality and murders of black citizens, the rise of hate speech and the treatment of indigenous and migrant populations.
Several experts raised the issue of reparations, including South African Faith Dikeledi Pansy Tlakula, who asked whether Congress or US President Joe Biden himself would respond to requests to create a commission to study this dossier.
Human rights advocates lament that Washington has never adequately addressed the abuses committed against black people during slavery and later periods of exploitation, segregation and violence.
This heritage, according to them, continues to be visible through policies in the areas of health, education and housing.
US officials, who spent many hours answering questions from experts, however, did not discuss the issue of reparations. As provided in the procedure, they have 48 hours to respond in writing. Many human rights defenders who traveled to Geneva to participate in the debates deplored Washington’s silence on the issue of reparations.
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