Understanding Racism as a Risk Factor in Atrocity Crimes

Context

Racism is linked to human rights violations globally and can be understood as a widespread cause and consequence of local and state conflict, authoritarian rule and histories of colonialism. Racism includes intentional inequities and discrimination based on a racial classification and is generally understood to be “any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms…”.[1] Such injustice presents in violations of human rights including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Racism is often cited as the main cause of mass atrocities such as in the Rwandan and Namibian genocides, and a basis for colonialism, and the transatlantic slave trade. While these cases highlight racism as a root cause, racism as a global phenomenon is more insidious in nature, permeating all levels of society and affecting policy and practice in social, cultural and economic spheres. The conditions of inequality and structural violence that this creates has the potential to culminate in first generation rights violations as well as social, economic and cultural rights violations as highlighted in the cases below.

Project Details

Racial equity requires deliberate attempts to eliminate policies, practices, attitudes and cultural messages that reinforce unjust treatment based on race and can only be achieved through proactive and preventative measures. Racial justice requires an understanding of the historical roots of racism, the ways in which these have manifested in the present day and tools to address past harms. It also requires working with affected communities and accountable actors for collective change. Given that the roots of racism are related to the fallacy of superiority based on whiteness, the origins of racism are similar in most contexts, however, how it unfolds and the tools used to address and prevent its prevalence may differ. While recognizing that indigenous communities and most communities of color are subject to racism, this project seeks to focus particularly on anti-Black racism, assessing the ways in which racism, if not addressed, could lead to atrocity crimes. According to the UN Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes (UN Framework), an atrocity crime is considered “to be the most serious crimes against humankind. Their status as international crimes is based on the belief that the acts associated with them affect the core dignity of human being.[2]” By drawing on the Framework as a source document, the project will undertake a series of activities focused on race, justice and racial transformation in order to achieve the project objectives and outputs below.

[1] International Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Adopted 21 December 1965, available at:https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial, Part I

[2]https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/about-us/Doc.3_Framework%20of%20Analysis%20for%20Atrocity%20Crimes_EN.pdf

The following case studies have been written by independent, local consultants on behalf of the Global Initiative for Justice, Truth and Reconciliation (GIJTR). The studies are informed by a combination of desktop research, document analysis and interviews. They therefore reflect these perspectives and findings, as compiled and written by the consulting author(s). Interviewees have been anonymized to ensure their safety and privacy but GIJTR extends its gratitude for the time and participation of all interviewees.