Originally conceived as a “shadow report” to the 2007 U.S. Periodic Report to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, this report was written by a coalition of experts in the fields of health policy and environmental justice, including academics and members of civil society organizations working to advance the right to health and the right to a healthy environment in the United States.

This report highlights:

  • The extent of racial discrimination in the areas of health and environmental health, as demonstrated by persistent racial disparities in access to health care and quality of health care;
  • Causes of racial discrimination, with a focus on government policies that create and exacerbate racial discrimination; and
  • The adequacy of the government response to health disparities, as well as recommended actions for all levels of government to eliminate racial discrimination in health and environmental health.

The Opportunity Agenda was one of the lead authors of this publication.