The Congregations of St. Joseph, an NGO in General Consultative Status with ECOSOC at the United Nations, condemns all forms of racism and xenophobia wherever and however they manifest themselves and in particular, at this time, systemic racism against persons of African descent, as made visible in the killing of George Floyd.
On June 16 and 17, 2020, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva held an Urgent Debate on “current racially inspired human rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality against people of African descent and violence against peaceful protests.”
In his 2020 Message, Pope Francis invites all people of faith and goodwill to get to know migrants and refugees and, this year in particular, those who have been forced to flee but have been unable to cross an international border, the internally displaced persons (IDPs).