Thursday February 8 12:12

UN Rights Chief Urges U.S. Action on Profiling

By Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.N. human rights chief Mary Robinson on Thursday urged the United States to take steps to combat racial profiling in preparation for a world conference on racism later this year. (...)

It is set for Aug. 31 to Sept. 7 in Durban, South Africa, and the goal is to have U.N. member states agree on a ``legal text'' condemning racism and committing themselves to action.  Asked to specify the issues she would ask Powell to have the United States address, Robinson cited ``racial profiling, even of the profile of those on death row. Tough issues that need to be looked at. Migration into the United States.''

But she was careful to balance her remarks with praise for America's history of confronting its divisions. ``There is a great experience in this country. Yes, there are problems but there's also a very significant experience of discussing these problems and having measures to address the issues,'' she said.

Racial profiling -- the practice of law enforcement detaining or arresting suspects specifically because of their color or ethnic identity -- increasingly has become a sensitive political and legal issue in the United States.

The Bush administration reportedly is considering a proposal to create a national law enforcement panel to examine racial profiling.

An aide to Attorney General John Ashcroft  has been quoted as saying Ashcroft would launch a special program aimed at fighting racial profiling, as well as others forms of discrimination.

Many European countries are critical of the United States for allowing the death penalty. The overwhelming majority of people on death row are blacks.

Robinson said she would ask Powell and Rice to back increased U.S. funding for the world conference on racism.