Highlighting the immense challenges and barriers faced by people of African descent with regard to meaningful, inclusive and safe participation.

 

The programme of activities for the implementation of the Decade recognizes the need to address the untold suffering and evils inflicted on millions of men, women and children as a result of slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, genocide and past tragedies, with a view to restoring the dignity of victims, achieving reconciliation and healing, and reversing lasting consequences (A/RES/69/16, annex, para. 17 (i)–(k)). In this connection, the present publication focuses on the need to halt and reverse the lasting consequences of slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, genocide and past tragedies for people of African descent, including through reparatory justice. The report draws on responses received to a questionnaire sent out by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in March 2023, as well as on observations and recommendations of United Nations bodies and experts, including the reports of the High Commissioner on the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers and the accompanying agenda towards transformative change for racial justice and equality (A/HRC/47/53 and A/HRC/47/ CRP.1; see also A/HRC/51/53 and A/HRC/54/66).

The High Commissioner notes measures by some authorities at different levels to enhance participation in the context of actions to promote racial justice and equality, while highlighting the immense challenges and barriers faced by people of African descent with regard to meaningful, inclusive and safe participation.


The High Commissioner calls on States to show stronger political will, by taking concrete and special measures to implement effectively all components of the right to participate in public affairs for people of African descent. Furthermore, he urges States to use upcoming landmark moments to accelerate the pace of action and unveil multipronged comprehensive evidence-based approaches that encompass far-reaching legal, policy and institutional measures to dismantle systemic racism in all areas of life – developed, implemented and monitored with the meaningful participation of people of African descent.