8 November 2024
Excellencies,
Ten years ago, the General Assembly proclaimed the International Decade for the People of African Descent, to be observed from 2015 to 2024, under the theme, and I quote: “People of African descent: recognition, justice, and development.”
This decade was declared to honor the often-overlooked contributions of people of African descent to human civilization.
The Decade was also declared to illuminate the harsh racial injustices they have endured across centuries—including the brutality of the transatlantic slave trade.
The Decade has been a unique opportunity to highlight the significant contributions of people of African descent to our societies.
In that spirit, the General Assembly adopted a programme of activities and proposed concrete measures to ensure their full inclusion in society, while combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.
Today’s high-level meeting serves three objectives:
- To assess the progress made in implementing the programme of activities of the international decade;
- To identify achievements and remaining challenges in the protection and promotion of human rights of people of African descent worldwide; and
- To propose recommendations for further actions.
Excellencies,
We have made commendable progress over the past years.
This includes establishing the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent as a consultative mechanism to support and improve the lives and livelihoods of people of African descent, in line with the International Decade’s programme of activities.
Led by people of African descent, the Permanent Forum has rapidly become an essential platform.
Through its reports to the Human Rights Council, it has issued critical recommendations on key issues in the fight against systemic racism. These includes calls for:
- Reparatory Justice;
- Economic Justice;
- Climate Justice;
- Supporting Pan-Africanism for dignity, justice and peace;
- And the initiation of a Second International Decade for People of African Descent;
Discussions are being held within the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to develop a United Nations declaration on the promotion, protection, and full respect of the human rights of people of African descent.
This initiative is crucial for ensuring that individuals of African descent fully enjoy all human rights.
Moreover, in August 2024, the General Assembly proclaimed July 25 as the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent.
This day commemorates the global fight against slavery and racism, underscores the commitment to gender equality, and honors the contributions of women and girls of African descent to advancing their societies
Excellencies,
While we acknowledge the progress made over the past decade, we must not rest on our laurels.
Much work remains.
Ten years into this Decade, people of African descent still endure systemic racism and discrimination—realities rooted in the enduring legacies of enslavement and colonialism.
We must confront and dismantle these legacies to ensure that people of African descent enjoy their full civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
Bold and urgent action is needed to secure for people of African descent the human rights and dignity to which they are entitled.
As President of the General Assembly, I am firmly committed to advancing these rights.
Our efforts toward recognition, justice, and development must extend beyond 2024, and I strongly support the consideration of a Second International Decade to sustain these goals.
I look forward with great anticipation to the discussions and outcomes of this meeting.
Thank you very much.