Law Enforcement Discrimination and Deaths in Custody

Purpose

This two-year project, launched in December 2007, has three main objectives. Firstly, to systematise the existing pool of knowledge on the relationship between deaths in custody and discriminatory policy or conduct by law enforcement bodies. The second objective of the project is to further enhance the global understanding of the nexus between deaths in custody and discrimination. The final objective lies in developing and promoting new advocacy tools that will complement existing prevention and investigatory standards into custodial deaths by adding a distinct, anti-discrimination component. In that regard, the project will help law enforcement and investigatory authorities to fulfil their duty to take all possible steps to prevent discrimination and investigate whether or not discrimination may have played a role in the events leading to the deaths.

Scope

The project covers discrimination on one or more relevant grounds including, sex, race, ethnicity, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth, or other status. The key terms of reference, namely, “custody”, “death”, “law enforcement” and “discrimination” are defined in accordance with the practice of international and regional treaty bodies responsible for the protection against torture. The project is not restricted geographically and encompasses in-depth case studies in a number of countries strategically selected to cover all relevant regions.