International law sets forth that all are equal before the law without discrimination, and governments have incorporated equal protection and non-discrimination into their constitutions and laws. In practice, however, criminal justice systems around the world discriminatorily criminalise people who are marginalized based on poverty, race, caste, ethnicity, religion, disability, nationality, gender, and other statuses or identities. Building on momentum from last year’s CCPCJ and a growing, global movement to address these inequities, this side-event will bring together governments, practitioners, civil society, and other experts to demonstrate discrimination within criminal laws and policies; share effective solutions; and highlight urgent actions needed to increase international cooperation on addressing inequality in criminal justice systems.

Speakers

• The Honorable Mr. Motsamai Makume, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Legal Aid South Africa, and Judge of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa, Pretoria 
• Ms. Lívia Casseres, Coordinator for Racial Justice, National Drug Policy Office, Ministry of Justice, Brazil
• Mr. Gunnar Theissen, Human Rights Officer, Special Procedures Branch, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 
• Mr. Jesse Bernstein, Senior Advisor, Office for Access to Justice, United States Department of Justice 
• Ms. Julie Wayua Matheka Nyaga, Acting Deputy Executive Director, International Commission of Jurists, Kenya 
• Ms. Dominique Day, Member, UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
• Moderated by: The Honorable Mr. Dunstan Mlambo, Director, The International Legal Foundation, and Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa.