UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima Speaks Out Against Racial Profiling in Switzerland
GENEVA — Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), has raised her voice against racial profiling and discrimination in Switzerland. Byanyima, who is also an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, revealed that police officers racially targeted her at her residence in Geneva.
In a social media post on x.com, Byanyima shared her experience of being harassed by security personnel while exercising in a private park near her residence. She stated that she had frequently faced racial profiling and discrimination, with security questioning her presence in the park despite being a building resident. Byanyima emphasized that such incidents make individuals of African descent feel unwanted and uncomfortable in public spaces.
The UNAIDS boss highlighted that racial profiling and discrimination are not isolated incidents but rather common experiences for many Black people in Switzerland. She called for an end to these practices and urged individuals to stand up against racism. Byanyima emphasized that racism against Black people is deeply rooted and pervasive, affecting various aspects of life, including access to services and public spaces.
Byanyima also shared her experience of being mistreated before boarding a plane in Geneva in 2022. She expressed her frustration at being subjected to extra scrutiny and delays while traveling for an important conference on HIV/AIDS. By speaking out about her mistreatment, Byanyima and other activists successfully brought attention to the issue of denying visas to people from Africa and Asia for important global conferences.
The UNAIDS Executive Director called for African governments to focus on running economies effectively, listening to the concerns of their people, and protecting vulnerable populations. Byanyima’s advocacy against racial profiling and discrimination underscores the need for societal change and the importance of addressing systemic issues of racism.
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