People of African Descent

A collage of Rocky Dawuni and Tendayi Achiume

Human Rights
NOT Racism

Background

Around 200 million people identifying themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent.

Whether as descendants of the victims of the transatlantic slave trade or as more recent migrants, they constitute some of the poorest and most marginalized groups.

For centuries, people of African descent were marginalized as part of the legacy of slavery and colonialism. There is a growing consensus that racism and racial discrimination have caused people of African descent to be held back in many aspects of public life. They have suffered exclusion and poverty and are often ��invisible�� in official statistics. There has been progress, but the situation persists, to varying degrees, in many parts of the world.

Spotlight: Living with the legacy of Slavery in Senegal �C Ina Makosi

��We learn slavery at school. We know what happened, so we don't forget, we own it��, reflects Ina Makosi, a Senegalese photographer who researches the impact of the slave trade in Africa on today��s urban culture and youth. For her research, Ina Thiam (her real name) regularly visits the Island of Gor��e to find traces of history. For centuries, the Island of Gor��e was a port of departure for the African slave trade. It is now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site. We follow Ina as she wanders between the historic island and Dakar��s suburbs where she meets with iconic hip hop musicians from West Africa who act as youth influencers and guides.

Poverty

The factors that lead to poverty among people of African descent are mainly structural. Discrimination is apparent in the unequal access these groups have to basic services. People of African descent are often disadvantaged, for example, in access to education, healthcare, markets, loans and technology.

Recognizing that poverty is both a cause and a consequence of discrimination, States should strengthen programmes for eradicating poverty that take account of the specific needs and experiences of people of African descent.

Let��s turn this around

Social investment in childhood and youth as a strategy to combat poverty, has been proposed as an approach that could help prevent the continued exclusion of a new generation of people of African descent from the benefits of economic, social and human development.

The discrimination faced by people of African descent is now receiving greater attention and as a result, Afro-descendant groups have increasingly made their voices heard in the policy process.

Spotlight: Ralph Bunche

Ralph Bunche received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize. Ralph was the first African American and person of color to be so honored in the history of the prize.

Ralph Bunche (right) and U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskj?ld
©UN Photo/MB

Agenda towards transformative change for racial justice and equality

On 28 June 2021, OHCHR released the High Commissioner��s groundbreaking , pursuant to , adopted by consensus in June 2020 following an on ��current racially inspired human rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests��.

The report introduces a to end systemic racism and human rights violations by law enforcement against Africans and people of African descent. The High Commissioner calls upon States and the Human Rights Council to:

STEP UP: Stop denying and start dismantling
PURSUE JUSTICE: End impunity and build trust
LISTEN UP: People of African descent must be heard
REDRESS: Confront past legacies, take special measures and deliver reparatory justice

UN Exhibition: "From Africa to the New World: Slavery in New York"

The exhibition was organized in connection with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (25 March 2019). The year's theme was "Remember Slavery: The Power of the Arts for Justice."

The exhibit aimed to educate visitors about the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the role that the arts played in the struggle of enslaved people towards freedom and justice. Through preserved writings, portrait drawings, engravings and other forms of art, the exhibit revealed a chapter of the Transatlantic Slave Trade that unfolded in New York City.

Related exhibits

©UN Photo/Loey Felipe

UN Action

Conferences - a platform for voicing concerns and generating movements

The impact of the 2001 World Conference against Racism on people of African descent, particularly in the Latin American and Caribbean region, was substantial.

The World Conference created a momentum that helped people of African descent voice their concerns and rally support.

Furthermore, it generated a movement advocating for the promotion and protection of their human rights that has helped strengthen grassroots campaigns around the world.

Spotlight: 1st Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

In August 2021, the General Assembly adopted resolution , which operationalized the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent as ��a consultative mechanism for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders�� and ��as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent.�� The took place in December 2022

Intergovernmental cooperation

On an inter-governmental level, the and the , the Independent Expert on minority issues and the have consistently taken up Afro-descendant issues.

Resolutions

The International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by ?and to be observed from 2015 to 2024, provides a solid framework for the United Nations, Member States, civil society and all other relevant actors to join together with people of African descent and take effective measures for the implementation of the programme of activities in the spirit of recognition, justice and development.

Spotlight: Master Class Series

UNESCO - Master Class Series against Racism and Discriminations

A seeking to empower students to become youth champions in their own schools and communities and spread awareness on how to deconstruct the mechanisms underlying racism and discriminations.

Using a human rights-based approach, the classes serve as dialogue spaces and peer learning forums among young participants, experts, resource persons, and invited personalities to openly discuss taboos that corrode the social and moral fiber in societies.

©UNESCO

National empowerment policies

At the national level, many countries have amended their constitutions to include clearer references to their multicultural characters. Some States have created national institutions to promote racial equality. In some countries, legislation has been adopted, which includes affirmative action policies for education, targeted health programmes and other initiatives of interest to people of African descent.

Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all UN Member States.

Where are we?

Although these processes have resulted in more visibility for people of African descent and to some extent have increased their empowerment, there are still problems in ensuring they are not excluded from fully exercising their human rights.

Governments, law and practice

Concrete action is needed to end racial discrimination. The commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights gives States an impetus to take prompt and robust steps, in law and in practice, to advance equality and combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Racial poisons minds, plagues institutions, destroys lives & tears countries apart.

We cannot keep waiting for more tragedies to occur to take action.

It's time for govts to in all its forms & protect everyone's equal rights & freedoms in the .
— Volker T��rk (@volker_turk)

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed glaring inequalities in society, by disproportionately affecting those whose rights have been denied by systemic racial discrimination and the legacy of racism [].

Black Lives Matter

The worldwide protests led by the US-based Black Lives Matter movement prompted the , mandating Member States to look at systemic racism and human rights violations by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent �C and to contribute to accountability and redress for victims.

We need transformative change to dismantle systemic racism and police brutality against Africans and people of African descent. Victims have a right to accountability and redress.
�� Michelle Bachelet (@mbachelet)

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