The World Bank recognizes the innate value of racial equity in global efforts to eradicate poverty and create opportunities that boost prosperity for all. By enabling all persons to realize their full potential regardless of race, racial equity enhances benefits for society as a whole and aids the attainment of long-term development objectives and the reduction of poverty.

In this light, the keynote session of Law, Justice and Development (LJD) Week―the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency’s annual flagship event―will convene a diverse panel of leading voices to highlight the experiences of certain countries and regions to provide insights into current global challenges and spur novel solutions around the theme of law, racial equity, and development.

With this background in mind, the goal of the session is to touch on various issues related to racial equity, poverty eradication, and shared prosperity in key areas such as health, economic empowerment, and education in the experience of particular countries and regions. It will also examine what racial equity efforts could mean for World Bank operations moving forward.

Racism and racial inequities still permeate everyday life in our societies. Several specialized mechanisms or instruments have been established at the international, regional and national level to address this global scourge and foster racial equity. Some examples include the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the appointment of a Race Discrimination Commissioner within the Australian Human Rights Commission and an Anti-Racism Coordinator for the European Union, or the adoption of the Inter-American Convention Against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance.

While these mechanisms may have different scopes, they all share the specific focus on racial issues. Why is this degree of specialization necessary? How does the approach vary based on mandate, forum, and focus (e.g., international versus regional or state-led approaches)? How do these efforts promote development?

Taking stock of their own experiences, panelists will discuss the current challenges that the world faces in fostering racial equity and combating racism and racial inequity. Panelists will also discuss possible solutions to foster racial equity in the development context, share lessons learned, and analyze different approaches to influence legal reforms addressing racial discrimination.