The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet Jeria has urged for compensations in order to restitute for past acts of slavery, colonialism and racism meted on people of colour especially the black Africans.
According to Michelle Bachelet, financial and other measures with the aim of addressing past racism, colonialism and slavery would “transform our future.”
ON MONDAY, the UN human rights chief urged countries to take “a wide range of reparations measures” to address the legacies of slavery, colonial rule, and racial discrimination.
Michelle Bachelet made the comment while presenting a report into racism worldwide and its impact on people of African descent.
The report was called for following the murder of Black man George Floyd by a white US police officer in 2020.
Some of the Key points raised by the United Nations Human Rights Chief were:
Research “could not find a single example of a state that has comprehensively reckoned with its past or accounted for its impacts on the lives of people of African descent today,” Bachelet said.
This was despite some attempts by means of apologies, litigation and memorializing.
Bachelet recommended that countries “create, reinforce and fully fund comprehensive processes — with the full participation of affected communities — to share the truth about what was done, and the harms it continues to inflict.”
Bachelet said the process would prove “crucial to healing our societies and providing justice for terrible crimes” and would “transform our future.”
In response, US official welcomes the report
IN GENEVA, the US deputy ambassador, Benjamin Moeling, welcomed the “insightful and forthright report” in a video statement made to the council.
“The United States is addressing these challenges, at home and abroad, honestly and transparently by tackling the underlying issues of racial discrimination and the use of excessive force in policing,” he said.
Meanwhile, a debate continues to polarize the US about the idea of reparations for slavery and following societal and judicial discrimination.
