UK accused of breaching UN race charter

A joint submission from the Runnymede Trust and Amnesty International UK to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s 113th session says that UK legislation and policy is in breach of key articles of the International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

Endorsed by over 40 civil society organisations, the 50-page report shows that people of colour have faced a worrying rowback on their civil and political rights.

It makes a number of recommendations, including the abolition of the two-child benefit limit, the scrapping of the Prevent duty, the prohibition in law and in practice of the use of strip searches on children, and the repeal of various pieces of public order and immigration legislation.

It also calls for a ban on the use of rap and music in prosecutions.

The shadow civil society submission, co-authored by the Runnymede Trust and Amnesty International UK, has been endorsed by over 40 civil society organisations including Liberty, Black Equity Organisation, Friends Families and Travellers, Migrants Organise, and Inquest.

Alba Kapoor, head of policy at the Runnymede Trust, said: “As far-right thugs attack, harass and intimidate people of colour in the UK, there could be no more urgent time to address racial injustice.

“People of colour have faced a rowback on their civil and political rights over the past five years. From the inhumane changes to our asylum system, to the introduction of legislation that restricts protest rights and ramps up harmful policing powers, it is time to shift the dial.

“This has been coupled with deep-rooted inequalities in access to housing, education and wealth — as the cost of living crisis bites. It is scandalous that in 2024 people of colour, children included, are facing these levels of poverty and deprivation. These are structural issues, and will need radical solutions to undo them.

“This new government must act to end the othering of migrant communities and people seeking asylum, and commit to meaningful structural changes that address deep rooted inequalities in our society. Our submission to the Committee highlights key recommendations to take forward in order for that to happen.”

Ilyas Nagdee, racial justice director at Amnesty UK, said: “The racist and Islamophobic violence unfolding on the streets of the UK highlight the failures of successive governments to make progress on institutional racism.

“Since the last reporting period, the Committee should be alert to the myriad ways racism and discrimination have been embedded in legislation and policy practice, rather than tackled by successive governments.

“In the face of racist violence, avenues for racialised communities to show their frustration at the lack of progress or dissent from Government have too been weakened with restrictions to protests, further policing powers extending to the pre-crime space and the ramping up of Prevent, which violates several of our basic human rights.

“The new UK government must not move forward attempting piecemeal reform, it must reset the national debate and make tackling institutional racism and inequality foundational to its missions, and ensure we do not vilify but protect some of the most marginalised people in the UK.”