EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogues on People of African Descent and Racial Justice in Law Enforcement

Thank you Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. We thank all the speakers for their reports.

We welcome Ms Curry as Chair of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. We are looking forward to your visit to Brussels in November for your fifth regional consultation, following those in Barbados, Colombia, Brazil and Canada. This is as excellent opportunity to strengthen dialogue between the Permanent Forum and EU institutions, EU Member States and European civil society. Colleagues are hard at work to organise a whole programme of discussions covering the rights of People of African Descent. We see this visit as contributing to the objectives of the Second UN International Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2034), themed ‘Recognition, Justice and Development’.

We are constantly striving for ways to overcome past differences and build understanding. It would be good to hear from you about what you hope to get out of your visit to Brussels, and what expectations you may have.

We welcome Ms Mamadou as Chair of the Working Group of Experts. We thank you for your report ‘Crossings and journeys’, on people of African descent in global migration.

The EU’s migration policy, notably the Pact on Migration and Asylum, is human-rights based and seeks to  effectively manage migration and remain true to European values, in particular by respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights. Border management measures, including in the context of hybrid threats and instrumentalisation of migration, must remain necessary and proportionate.

This human rights based approach also guides our cooperation with third countries on migration, including through capacity-building, independent monitoring and support to civil society and national institutions. In this same spirit, the EU also supports IOM and UNHCR’s whole-of-route approach to protection along migration routes.

Your report touches on abuses resulting from the use of artificial intelligence. Which good practices on preventing racial profiling in border management would you encourage States to prioritise, and how can cooperation of Member States with the Working Group help translate these recommendations into practice?

And we welcome Ms Keesee as Chair of the Expert Mechanism. We also acknowledge Ms Akua Kuenyehia for her work in advancing racial justice and equality in law enforcement.

The rule of law and an effective criminal justice system are essential pillars of our societies. However, their credibility and effectiveness depend on the equal treatment of all before the law. We therefore take seriously the report’s findings on racial profiling and unequal treatment of Africans and People of African Descent at different stages of the criminal justice process.

The EU is committed to tackling structural racism, as well as antisemitism, including through its Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030, which focuses on strengthening anti-discrimination measures and addressing racial bias, including in law enforcement. We recognise the importance of continued efforts to ensure that law enforcement policies and practices are consistent with human rights and the principle of non-discrimination.

How can States ensure that reforms to counteract racism in counter-narcotics efforts address the systemic and institutional roots of racial discrimination?

Thank you.