4th Annual Session of the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Ad

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 the third consultation (after trial), participants are invited to discuss:

- Deprivation of liberty
- Discriminatory treatment of prisoners, including: use of torture and other ill-treatment,
disciplinary measures: searches, solitary confinement
- Rehabilitation and preparation for release
- Access to parole and alternatives to detention
- Cases of miscarriages of justice
- Appeal proceedings

Guiding questions include:

1. What are the main factors contributing to the overrepresentation of Africans and people of African descent in detention and in other types of criminal supervision?

2. Are there disparities in granting parole to prisoners of African descent compared to other racial groups? Are alternatives to detention, such as probation or community service, applied with regard to people of African descent?

3. What data is available regarding discriminatory treatment of prisoners of African descent?

4. Have you identified disparities and/or discrimination in the application of disciplinary measures, such as searches and solitary confinement, towards prisoners of African descent?

5. What measures should be put in place to prevent and address the use of torture and ill-treatment against prisoners of African descent?

6. What rehabilitation programs are available for prisoners of African descent? What are the support systems in place to assist prisoners of African descent in their successful transition from incarceration to community life?

7. What are the barriers to justice faced by people of African descent seeking to appeal wrongful convictions? Are there any disparities in the outcomes of appeal cases for people of African descent compared to other racial groups?