A/HRC/45/47 I. Introduction 1. The present report has been prepared pursuant to paragraph 14 of Human Rights Council resolution 42/29, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her capacity as coordinator of the International Decade for People of African Descent, to submit a midterm report on her activities in follow-up to the implementation of the programme of activities within the framework of the Decade at its forty-fifth session.1 The present report contains an outline of the various activities that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has undertaken to follow up on the implementation of the programme of activities. OHCHR, through its headquarters and field presences around the world, has been central to supporting States in implementing the programme of activities. Action has also been taken in collaboration with other entities of the United Nations system and regional partners, and with the participation of and in consultation with civil society representatives of African descent. Furthermore, OHCHR has supported many civil society initiatives in relation to the Decade. Finally, the report presents information on further action that urgently still needs to be taken at the midterm of the Decade to follow-up on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade. 2. The present report is being submitted as protests and movements against racial discrimination are taking place in many countries across the globe. Protests were sparked in May 2020 by the killing of an unarmed African American man, George Floyd, at the hands of the police in Minneapolis, United States of America, drawing the attention of the world to the pervasive racial discrimination experienced by people of African descent. Following that killing and the subsequent protests, the Human Rights Council held an urgent debate on 17 and 18 June 2020, and then adopted a resolution in which it requested, inter alia, the High Commissioner, with the assistance of relevant special procedure mandate holders, to prepare a report on systemic racism, violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies, especially those incidents that resulted in the death of Mr. Floyd and other Africans and people of African descent, to contribute to accountability and redress for victims. 2 The Council also requested the High Commissioner to examine government responses to peaceful protests against racism, including the alleged use of excessive force against protesters, bystanders and journalists. 3 3. OHCHR is working diligently to ensure the full implementation of the mandate contained in the above-mentioned resolution. With the assistance of special procedure mandate holders, consideration will be given to issues of systemic and structural racism and to violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement, bearing in mind that the causes of extrajudicial killings of people of African descent and the lack of accountability and redress for victims are often rooted in historically entrenched structural racism originating in slavery, the slave trade and colonialism. 4. In preparing its final report, OHCHR will hold meaningful consultations with stakeholders, in particular communities of people of African descent. II. Background and current context of the International Decade for People of African Descent 5. The programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent is the framework that the international community has agreed upon to focus its efforts to improve the lives of millions of people of African descent worldwide. The main general objective of the programme of activities is to strengthen national, regional and international action and cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment 1 2 3 2 See General Assembly resolution 69/16 on the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent. Human Rights Council resolution 43/1, para. 3. Ibid., para. 4.