University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumnus Mutuma Ruteere will speak about his work on behalf of the United Nations on matters related to racism and xenophobia around the world during a 7 p.m. Nov. 5 discussion in the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center’s Unity Room.

Originally from Kenya, Ruteere is UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. He also serves as director of the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ruteere earned a doctorate in political science with a specialization in human rights from UNL in 2006 and has published widely on human rights. He has taught courses at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, University of Nairobi, United States International University and the Kenya School of Government. He is on various advisory of boards of human rights groups and regularly writes in the media.

He was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as the special rapporteur in November 2011. In this role, he has undertaken studies on Internet governance and racism and xenophobia; sports and the challenge of racism; profiling in law enforcement; role of education in combatting racism and xenophobia; and glorification of Nazism and threat of extremist movements, among others. The Special Rapporteur has undertaken official visits to countries in the various regions of the world.

Ruteere’s talk is hosted by the Forsythe Family Program on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.