GENEVA, June 17 -- The Human Right Council on Wednesday afternoon began an urgent debate on current racially inspired human rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests, in the follow-up to the killing of George Floyd in the United States.
In her opening remarks, Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, President of the UN Human Rights Council, said that the debate was being held at the request of Burkina Faso on behalf of the African Group.
She bowed to all the victims and requested those present to observe a moment of silence at the beginning of the debate.
On May 25, Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, was killed by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill.
Amina Mohammed, deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, via video teleconference, said that the debate is a "historic debate," given that Afro-descendants still faced poverty and structural racism.
"I too, like Martin Luther King Jr, have a dream that my granddaughter Maya will grow up in a world where she will not be judged by the color of her skin but by the strength of her character," she said.
Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that the wave of protests since the killing of George Floyd had been truly global, and encouraged the Council to heighten its focus on racism and racial discrimination.
【国际英语资讯:UN rights body holds urgent debate on systemic racism, police brutality】相关文章:
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