EVENT: On August 31st; from 14:30 to 16:00 pm EST, a virtual event will be held to mark the 5th edition of the International Day for People of African Descent. The United Nations General Assembly invites all Member States, all organizations and bodies of the United
Nations system and other international and regional organizations, the private sector
and academia, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and
individuals, to observe the International Day in an
appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness-raising
activities, in order to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora
around the world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of
African descent. By fostering collaboration among governments, organizations, and communities we can find way to create a more equitable future in which the aspirations and rights of people of African descent are fully recognized, honored, and celebrated. You are invited to Register to participate!
Statement of the United Nations Secretary General on the International Day for People of African Descent 2025; August 31st.
On the International Day for People of African Descent, we honour the extraordinary contributions of people of African descent across every sphere of human endeavour.
But we also recognise enduring injustices. The legacies of slavery and colonialism cast long shadows – seen in systemic racism, unequal economies and societies, and the digital divide. White supremacy and dehumanizing narratives are amplified by social media, and, too often, racial bias is encoded in algorithms.
Eighty years after the United Nations Charter reaffirmed the equal rights and inherent dignity of every human being, and sixty years since the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, it is long past time to right historic wrongs.
The Global Digital Compact takes a step forward, with commitments to tackle discrimination and hate speech in digital technologies. And the second International Decade for People of African Descent must drive real change -- including working towards a United Nations Declaration on the full respect of people of African descent’s human rights.
Let’s make this a decade of action – for justice, dignity and equality for people of African descent around the world.
António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General.
.
People of African descent have built a rich heritage of creative excellence, of transformative leadership, and of enduring resilience. They have shaped the world in ways that cannot be measured. The International Day for People of African descent is an opportunity to celebrate their diverse contributions to societies. Today also serves as a call to step up efforts to address the persistent injustices against them. the legacy of colonialism and the trade in enslaved Africans. Because of systemic racism, people of African descent are more likely to live in poverty and to experience discrimination across the board, from access to housing and health care to education and political representation.
Damaging stereotypes fuel racially motivated violence, hate speech, and supremacist ideologies that threaten their safety and dignity. This community faces systemic discrimination in their interactions with law enforcement and criminal justice and women and girls of African descent. People with disabilities and many other groups within the community experience intersectional discrimination.
To secure the full rights and freedoms of people of African descent, we need urgent progress on three fronts. First, recognition that systemic racism can only be tackled with systemic reforms.
My office, UN Human Rights, stands ready to support states to dismantle racist systems, laws, and policies. Second, reparatory justice to address the lasting impact of enslavement and colonialism.
initiatives can include truthtelling, memorialization, and formal apologies as well as reparations.
Third, improving data collection to confront entrenched racial inequalities.
What isn't counted doesn't count. So states need to monitor the differing impact of laws and policies on different communities and they need to take action grounded in robust data analysis.
The United Nations is working around the world to end the discrimination, the violence and the inequality suffered by people of African descent. I welcome the designation of the next 10 years as the
second international decade for people of African descent and I urge states to prioritize deliberation and adoption of a United Nations declaration on the respect, protection and fulfillment of the human rights of this important group. This will help to confront violations and provide guidance for building anti-racist societies. Justice denied to people of African descent is a denial of our shared humanity. This International Day is a powerful reminder that we need to intensify the fight against racism for a just and equitable future for all.
Damaging stereotypes fuel racially motivated violence, hate speech, and supremacist ideologies that threaten their safety and dignity. This community faces systemic discrimination in their interactions with law enforcement and criminal justice and women and girls of African descent. People with disabilities and many other groups within the community experience intersectional discrimination.
To secure the full rights and freedoms of people of African descent, we need urgent progress on three fronts. First, recognition that systemic racism can only be tackled with systemic reforms.
My office, UN Human Rights, stands ready to support states to dismantle racist systems, laws, and policies. Second, reparatory justice to address the lasting impact of enslavement and colonialism.
initiatives can include truthtelling, memorialization, and formal apologies as well as reparations.
Third, improving data collection to confront entrenched racial inequalities.
What isn't counted doesn't count. So states need to monitor the differing impact of laws and policies on different communities and they need to take action grounded in robust data analysis.
The United Nations is working around the world to end the discrimination, the violence and the inequality suffered by people of African descent. I welcome the designation of the next 10 years as the
second international decade for people of African descent and I urge states to prioritize deliberation and adoption of a United Nations declaration on the respect, protection and fulfillment of the human rights of this important group. This will help to confront violations and provide guidance for building anti-racist societies. Justice denied to people of African descent is a denial of our shared humanity. This International Day is a powerful reminder that we need to intensify the fight against racism for a just and equitable future for all.
Mr Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Statement of the UNFPA on International Day for People of African Descent 2025; August 31st.
Across the world, people of African descent continue to endure glaring inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic opportunity and political representation. Higher rates of maternal death and adolescent pregnancy among women and girls of African descent rooted in historical patterns of race-based reproductive discrimination continue – and often go unaddressed. This year, as we mark the start of the second International Decade for People of African Descent, we have a pivotal opportunity to take concrete actions to end racism, reach reproductive justice and secure the full human rights of people of African descent worldwide. Reproductive justice requires securing sexual and reproductive health for Afrodescendent women and youth. To achieve equity and human rights, including in reproductive health, the legacies of colonialism, slavery and systemic neglect must be dismantled. We must advance universal, high-quality sexual and reproductive health services, rights and choices, from comprehensive sexuality education to contraception to pre- and postnatal care, while ensuring cultural competency and promoting gender equality and human rights. Securing reproductive justice also requires opening opportunities for Afrodescendent people to overcome poverty, including combating systemic racism, ensuring access to quality education and training, expanding access to emerging technologies such as AI, and promoting equal employment opportunities for Afrodescedent youth. The collection of high-quality data, disaggregated by race, gender and age, is critical to identifying and addressing persistent sexual and reproductive health disparities among women and girls of African descent. Recent funding cuts jeopardize long-standing data systems, highlighting the urgent need to secure sustainable investments and to develop alternative mechanisms for data collection and analysis. Statistical visibility does more than reveal needs: It openly affirms the value, contributions and belonging of Afrodescendent women and girls across the world.
Across the world, people of African descent continue to endure glaring inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic opportunity and political representation. Higher rates of maternal death and adolescent pregnancy among women and girls of African descent rooted in historical patterns of race-based reproductive discrimination continue – and often go unaddressed. This year, as we mark the start of the second International Decade for People of African Descent, we have a pivotal opportunity to take concrete actions to end racism, reach reproductive justice and secure the full human rights of people of African descent worldwide. Reproductive justice requires securing sexual and reproductive health for Afrodescendent women and youth. To achieve equity and human rights, including in reproductive health, the legacies of colonialism, slavery and systemic neglect must be dismantled. We must advance universal, high-quality sexual and reproductive health services, rights and choices, from comprehensive sexuality education to contraception to pre- and postnatal care, while ensuring cultural competency and promoting gender equality and human rights. Securing reproductive justice also requires opening opportunities for Afrodescendent people to overcome poverty, including combating systemic racism, ensuring access to quality education and training, expanding access to emerging technologies such as AI, and promoting equal employment opportunities for Afrodescedent youth. The collection of high-quality data, disaggregated by race, gender and age, is critical to identifying and addressing persistent sexual and reproductive health disparities among women and girls of African descent. Recent funding cuts jeopardize long-standing data systems, highlighting the urgent need to secure sustainable investments and to develop alternative mechanisms for data collection and analysis. Statistical visibility does more than reveal needs: It openly affirms the value, contributions and belonging of Afrodescendent women and girls across the world.
UNFPA Executive-Director.
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