US defends human rights records before UN body

The United States has defended its human rights records before a United Nation Human Rights Council  in Geneva, while admitting that the death of several unarmed African-Americans in recent years proves that Washington needs to do more to uphold its civil rights laws.

James Cadogan, a senior counselor in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said on Monday that "we must rededicate ourselves to ensuring that our civil rights laws live up to their promise."

"The tragic deaths of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Michael Brown in Missouri, Eric Garner in New York, Tamir Rice in Ohio, and Walter Scott in South Carolina have... challenged us to do better and to work harder for progress," he said.

The US delegation, headed by US ambassador to the council Keith Harper and acting US legal advisor Mary McLeod, are expected to face a range of questions from diplomats at the so-called Universal Periodic Review.

During the half-day public debate, diplomats asked questions about police brutality, law enforcement tactics and the disproportionate impact on African-Americans and other minorities.

"When federal, state, local or tribal officials wilfully use excessive force that violates the US Constitution or federal law, we have authority to prosecute them," said Cadogan.

He claimed that the US was intent on bringing abusive police officers to justice, saying over the past six years, criminal charges brought against more than 400 law enforcement officials.

The Council turned the spotlight on the US human rights records as the country is plagued with massive anti-police protests and riots over the death of several black men, including Freddie Gray who died of a broken neck in police custody on April 19.

Baltimore police are under scrutiny for their treatment of detainees following the death of Gray.

The Justice Department announced on Friday that it would conduct a federal investigation into Baltimore's police.

SB/AGB

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