A/HRC/45/44
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
21 August 2020
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-fifth session
14 September–2 October 2020
Agenda item 9
Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation
of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
COVID-19, systemic racism and global protests
Report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent*
Summary
Structural racial discrimination exacerbates inequality in access to health care and
treatment, leading to racial disparities in health outcomes and increased mortality and
morbidity for people of African descent. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought racial
disparity and discrimination to the surface in institutions designed to confer justice, equity
and redress. In the present report, the Working Group of Experts on People of African
Descent analyses the connections between the COVID-19 pandemic, police impunity and
global protest, and makes recommendations thereon. The report also includes an overview
of the Working Group’s activities over the past year.
* Agreement was reached to publish the present report after the standard publication date owing to
circumstances beyond the submitter's control.
GE.20-10966(E)