The debate was held at the request of 54 African countries, following the extensive demonstrations held in the United States and the rest of the world. The protests were triggered by the death of African American George Floyd following a brutal police intervention in Minneapolis.

"Saw my brother die"

In a video message to the council, Floyd's brother Philonise is appealing for international help:

- My brother is one of many black men and women who have been murdered by police in recent years. You saw my brother die. It could have been me.

- I ask you to help us - black people in the US, he says.

UN-led investigation

Philonise Floyd calls on the United Nations to launch an independent commission with the aim of investigating violence against black Americans and protesters.

Several African countries also want to see a UN-led investigation into the violence.

Leopold Ismael Samba, Ambassador to the Central African Republic, spoke out in the debate and urged the governments of all countries to fight together against systematic racism.

"Patience is over"

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, also comments on recent protests:

- Patience is over. The lives of blacks are valuable.

- All people are born with the same rights, that's what this council stands for.

The designation is criticized

The fact that the United States is mainly selected is criticized by Andrew Bremberg, the country's UN representative in Geneva:

"We are not above scrutiny, but every HRC resolution on this topic that points out countries by name should be comprehensive, and mention the many countries where racism is a problem," he writes in a statement.

The United States did not participate in the debate when it left the UN Human Rights Council in June 2018 following a dispute over the Israel-Palestine conflict.