The UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent have commenced a fact-finding visit to Norway. The visit which began on Monday, 11 December, will conclude on 20 December 2023.
The experts will gather information on any forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, in order to assess the overall human rights situation of Africans and people of African descent in Norway.
The Working Group’s delegation, which is visiting the country at the invitation of the Government, will travel to Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen and Trondheim, and meet representatives of the Government, national institutions, people of African descent, civil society organisations and individuals working on issues of racism and racial discrimination.
The delegation, which also includes human rights experts Catherine Namakula and Miriam Ekiudoko, will investigate good practices and gaps in protecting the human rights of people of African descent in Norway. The Working Group will present a report on its visit to the Human Rights Council in September 2024.
The experts will also promote the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024), which aims to highlight the contribution of people of African descent to societies, and strengthen national, regional and international cooperation to ensure that the human rights of people of African descent around the world are respected, protected and fulfilled.
A press conference to share the delegation’s preliminary findings and recommendations will be held at 12:00pm on Wednesday, 20 December at Akersgata 58 (room D2511) Oslo.Access will be strictly limited to journalists. Registrations by email to: [email protected]
Five independent experts
The Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent was established on 25 April 2002 by the then Commission on Human Rights, following the World Conference against Racism held in Durban in 2001. It is composed of five independent experts: Ms. Barbara G. Reynolds current Chair-Rapporteur; Ms. Bina D’Costa; Ms. Dominique Day; Ms. Catherine S. Namakula and Ms. Miriam Ekiudoko.
The Working Group is part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the United Nations Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
