Today is Human Rights Day
This year, the theme is: EQUALITY- Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights
On 10 December 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR),‘which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status’
The UNDHR led in 1965 to the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the body that monitors implementation of the Convention.
Every few years, the Committee reviews how well each member state is putting into practice the rights outlined in CERD. Civil society organisations are invited to send a shadow report. This year, the Runnymede Trust submitted a shadow Report to CERD, following consultation with over 100 civil society organisations. CARJ is a signatory to the Runnymede Report.
Human Rights Day is an appropriate point to look again at the Runnymede Report, which ‘shows that racism is systemic in England and impacts BME groups’ enjoyment of rights. Legislation, institutional practices and society’s customs continue to combine to harm BME groups. As a result, in England, BME groups are consistently more likely to live in poverty, to be in low-paid precarious work and to die of COVID-19. Disparities facing BME groups in England are sustained across the areas of health, housing, the criminal justice system, education, employment, immigration and political participation.’
See below a link to the Runnymede Report