GENEVA, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Thursday presented an oral update on systemic racism to the ongoing 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council, saying that her office continued to receive reports of police brutality and racism against people of African descent.

She also reported to the council her activities within the framework of the International Decade for People of African Descent, noting that structural inequalities and racial discrimination had been manifest in violence against people of African descent, including by police.

The disproportionate and devastating severity of the COVID-19 pandemic on people of African descent also exposed their marginalisation. Ending these and other harms caused by entrenched racial discrimination in institutions was crucial, she said.

Earlier in June of this year after the deaths of U.S. citizen George Floyd in Minneapolis and other people of African descent, the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution, strongly condemning the continuing racially discriminatory and violent practices perpetrated by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent.

The resolution requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on systemic racism, violations of international human rights law, and abuses against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies.

"Law enforcement officials carried out some of the most necessary and challenging work in all societies. They had a duty to perform their functions in line with human rights law, while respecting equality and dignity," Bachelet said.

Refiloe Litjobo, Chairman-Rapporteur of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action, also said at Thursday's session that the current COVID-19 pandemic had particularly hit groups that already faced discrimination, including people of African descent.

In this regard, the massive demonstrations around the world in solidarity with Floyd had shown that all countries were concerned by the problem of racism, he said.

In the following general debate on this topic, some speakers denounced the political instrumentalization of racism in western countries. Others called on states to address violations of the rights of indigenous peoples, which they considered to be another form of racial discrimination.

Speaking in Thursday's general debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance were Germany on behalf of the European Union, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Kuwait on behalf of a group of countries and China on behalf of a group of countries. Enditem

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