In examining how systemic racism affects Africans and people of African descent in the criminal justice system, speakers and participants are invited to discuss obstacles, challenges, lessons learnt and promising initiatives at different stages of the criminal justice proceedings, including before, during and after a trial. They will also explore how race and other intersecting factors contribute to discrimination against, and disproportionate outcomes for, Africans and people of African descent in the criminal justice system as well as the correlation between racial discrimination and the overrepresentation of Africans and people of African descent in detention.
In this
first consultation (before trial), participants are invited to discuss:
- Stop and search
- Racial profiling
- Role of the use of new technologies, including AI
- Arrest and police custody (including access to legal and procedural safeguards)
- Pre-trial detention, and bail
- Investigations and prosecutions
Guiding questions for this consultation include:1. What are the experiences of Africans and people of African descent subjected to stop and search procedures compared to other racial groups? What data is available in this regard, and where are there gaps in data?
2. Is there any data on the outcome of these stop-and-search procedures (e.g. how frequently they lead to arrests)?
3. How is AI being used in law enforcement, and what are the implications for racial profiling and the impact on Africans and people of African descent? Are there accountability mechanisms in this regard?
4. What are the experiences of Africans and people of African descent in accessing legal and procedural safeguards in the first hours of police custody? How does this compare to other groups?
5. What is the impact of the criminalization of migration on African migrants and migrants of African descent?
6. What are the disparities in the use of pre-trial detention vs alternative measures to detention, such as bail, for Africans and people of African descent compared to other groups?
7. What measures are needed to ensure fairness and non-discrimination against Africans and people of African descent in the investigation and the prosecution phases?
