After Riots, UN Urges UK to Address Systemic Racism and Colonial Injustices

In response to recent racist riots in the UK, the United Nations’ anti-racism body has called on the UK government to confront systemic racism and rectify historical injustices against Black Britons, particularly the Windrush generation and the Chagossians, Human Rights Watch revealed yesterday.

The report highlights the ongoing impact of the “Windrush Scandal,” where many individuals faced wrongful detention and deportation due to the government’s hostile environment policy. Despite a compensation scheme established in 2018, many claimants are still waiting for redress.

The UN also criticized the government’s failure to allow Chagossians, forcibly displaced over 50 years ago, to return to their homeland. While the new UK government has pledged to tackle racial discrimination, it has not recognized the Chagossians’ right to return. The UN experts emphasized the need for meaningful consultations with both communities to ensure justice and compensation, urging the UK to implement all recommendations from the Windrush review.