University News Last updated 19 January 2023
A United Nations team examining the experiences of people of African descent will visit the UK for the first time in a decade, including holding a conference at Birmingham City University on Monday 23 January 2023.
The UN’s Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (WGEPAD), who undertake a fact-finding mission to the UK every 10 years in a bid to understand the situation of people of African descent in the country, will meet with members of the public to identify challenges and to make recommendations for how these could be resolved.
The event will see the team of human rights, public law, gender, and criminal justice specialists visit the University to hear testimonies from both individuals and organisations, as part of a conference event held at BCU’s Curzon Building – home to the University’s Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences.
Andrews, the author of New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World, also said: “Racism is a global system and the experiences of Black people here can only be understood in an international context. Our work on Black Studies makes us perfectly placed to welcome both the expert panel and wider communities to have their voices heard.”
WGEPAD aims to review and research all forms of racial discrimination faced by people of African descent in the UK. Areas of its focus include employment, education, health and wellbeing, law and justice, stop and search, climate change, culture rights, housing and reparations.
To fulfil its mandate the group undertakes country visits; holds two annual sessions; responds to information and allegations received concerning its mandate under the Communications procedure; and reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly on its activities.
The United Nations Working Group on People of African Descent conference is open to members of the public and takes place at Birmingham City University’s Curzon Building between 1700 and 1900 on Monday 23 January 2023.