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Racial inequality, discrimination: UN warns of rising racism in UK

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
30 Mar 2024 09:24
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A recent report from the UN Human Rights Committee has raised the alarm about the pervasive issue of racial discrimination in the UK.

Demonstrators clash with police officers outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London on Friday, Oct.5, 2012. (AP)

In a recent report, the UN Human Rights Committee sounded the alarm over the extent of racial discrimination in Great Britain, cautioning that the government has largely failed to tackle "systemic" racism, with instances seemingly being on the rise.

The Committee expressed concern over increasing reports of "racial inequality and discriminatory practices" against Roma, individuals of African descent, and other minority groups in Great Britain, as reported by RT.

The UN body highlighted that those of African descent face "systemic racism" and disproportionate policing within the British criminal justice system, citing unjustified racial disparities in stop and search powers.

#Britain's police watchdog has called for an explanation for the rampant misogyny and "disgraceful" behavior after a newly published report cited widespread bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination. pic.twitter.com/VzlZT86Ci0
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 7, 2022

The report recommended that the UK government allocate more resources toward combating racism, review its anti-discrimination policies, and provide comprehensive training to civil servants and law enforcement personnel.

Discrimination and lack of accountability: UK's controversial policies scrutinized

The Committee expressed concerns about the perceived lack of accountability for UK military personnel involved in overseas operations. They highlighted the absence of prosecutions or thorough investigations into allegations of war crimes by British soldiers in Iraq.

Specifically, they referenced the 2021 Overseas Operations Act, which they criticized for providing a presumption against prosecution for military personnel deployed outside British territory for more than five years. The Committee urged London to investigate and prosecute all violations by British officials and armed forces members, regardless of location, without any time limitations.

Last year, the UK faced accusations of discrimination by a group of immigration experts who criticized its policies toward Ukrainians in comparison to those from countries like Sudan.

The experts accused the government of displaying "unashamed racism", stressing that the apparent favoritism toward Ukrainians was based on the color of their skin.

Caitlin Boswell, a policy and advocacy manager for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), stated that the government's approach to developing policies for those seeking safety was delineated along racial lines. However, London refuted these allegations, stating that it was incorrect to compare and pit vulnerable groups against each other.