The United Nations General Assembly declared the International Decade for People of African Descent in December 2013, with the aim of addressing issues related to recognition, justice, and development for individuals of African descent. The decade officially began in 2015 and sought to promote the rights of people of African descent, raise awareness of their cultural contributions, and strengthen legal frameworks to combat racial discrimination.
On August 31, 2021, the international day for people of African descent was recognized, highlighting the continued importance of addressing issues faced by this community. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Member States to declare a second international decade to further accelerate global efforts for true change in addressing racism and discrimination.
Mr. Guterres acknowledged the significant contributions of people of African descent to society through leadership and activism. However, he also pointed out that the legacy of enslavement and colonialism continues to have a lasting impact. He emphasized that systemic racism persists and evolves into new forms, including in emerging technologies where algorithms can amplify discrimination. In response, the UN has prioritized eradicating racism and racial discrimination, establishing a new Anti-Racism Office to address these issues in the workplace.
The Secretary-General stressed the need for governments to lead the way in advancing and implementing policies and laws to tackle systemic racism and ensure inclusion. He also called for reparatory justice to address the historical crimes of slavery. Mr. Guterres urged global efforts to build a world of equality, opportunity, and justice for all.
UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts also called for an end to racism ahead of the International Day for People of African Descent. They recognized that millions of individuals of African descent worldwide continue to be victims of systemic and structural racism and discrimination. Like the Secretary-General, the experts proposed a second International Decade for People of African Descent from 2025 to 2034, emphasizing the need to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for this community.
In the next decade, experts highlighted the importance of focusing on recognition, justice, and development while addressing challenges specific to people of African descent. They urged Member States to create and enforce human rights tools, strategies, and monitoring systems to combat systemic racism and protect the rights of individuals of African descent fully.
With the upcoming UN Summit of the Future in September and the 16th Conference of the Parties for biodiversity in October, experts called on member states to utilize these crucial meetings as opportunities to address issues affecting people of African descent. They emphasized that the time for decisive action is now and encouraged seizing these opportunities to bring about meaningful change for this community and humanity as a whole.
