The brother of the late George Floyd, a black man whose death under the knee of a white officer roused world protests against racial injustice, urged the United Nations on Wednesday to investigate U.S. police brutality and racial discrimination.
"The way you saw my brother tortured and murdered on camera is the way black people are treated by police in America," Philonise Floyd told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by video.
He urged creation of an independent commission to investigate American police killings of black people and violence used against peaceful protesters.
"You watched my brother die. That could have been me. I am my brother's keeper. You in the United Nations are your brothers and sisters' keepers in America, and you have the power to help us get justice for my brother George Floyd," he said.
George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, speaks (via video message) before the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet during the urgent debate at the High-Level Segment of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland June 17, 2020. /Reuters
The urgent debate on current racially inspired human rights violations, systematic racism, police brutality against people of African descent and violence against peaceful protests, convened at the request of African countries seeking a UN inquiry into abuses, is to continue on Thursday.
At the beginning of the debate, representatives bowed to all the victims and requested those present to observe a moment of silence.
"We are deeply shocked and saddened over the death of George Floyd and extend our sincere condolences to the bereaved family. Life is paramount. Black lives matter," China's permanent representative to the UN Office at Geneva Chen Xu told the meeting.
He said the death of Floyd is not an isolated case and it exposes long-existing and deep-rooted racism, police brutality and inequalities in the United States.
China takes a consistent stand against racism and racial discrimination in any form and "We urge the United States to heed the call of the international community and honor in all seriousness its international human rights obligations; to eliminate racism, racial discrimination and other human rights violations and protect the legitimate rights of ethnic minorities; to stop using human rights as a political tool and abandon double standards," Chen said.
"The Human Rights Council must be the ultimate defender of the weak and do so particularly for the descendants and the victims of the transatlantic slave trade," South Africa's ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko told the talks.
Empty U.S. panel in the urgent debate at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland June 17, 2020. /Reuters
Activists and diplomats said that U.S. and Australian officials had lobbied African countries to tone down their draft resolution. The latest draft, seen by Reuters, does not name the United States or set up a UN commission of inquiry.
The latest text proposes that the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, "establish the facts and circumstances relating to systemic racism" and alleged use of excessive force, and report back in a year.
Bachelet, in her speech, called for investigating and prosecuting excessive use of force by police and for "swift and decisive reforms."
"Black lives matter. Indigenous lives matter. The lives of people of color matter. All human beings are born equal in dignity and rights," she said.
The United States quit the Council two years ago and does not attend debates.
(With input from Reuters, Xinhua)