International Day for People of African Descent

Theme: " Thoughts, reflections and expectations for a reinforced partnership between the Working Group of Experts of people of African Descent and Civil society organizations in the context of the Second International Decade on people of African descent ". In 2008, Human Rights Council resolution 9/14 entrusted the Working Group: (a) To study the problems of racial discrimination faced by people of African descent living in the diaspora and, to that end, gather all relevant information from Governments, non-governmental organizations and other relevant sources, including through the holding of public meetings with them; (b) To propose measures to ensure full and effective access to the justice system by people of African descent; (c) To submit recommendations on the design, implementation and enforcement of effective measures to eliminate racial profiling of people of African descent; (d) To make proposals on the elimination of racial discrimination against Africans and peop...

The fourth session of the Permanent Forum will take place from 14 - 17 April 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York. The overarching theme is " Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence ". Event on the Haiti's Independence Debt: 200 years later, and closing. Global calls for reparations for the historical legacies of enslavement and colonialism gain new urgency in this digital age, where systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated in emerging technologies. This fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, will focus on the roles and contributions of key actors in shaping and promoting the global agenda for reparatory justice. Discussions on the human rights of women and girls of African descent will  reflect on the integration of an intersectional perspective, looking notably at race and gender , in the global agendas for reparatory justice and for digital justice....

1. The United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent held its fourth session from 14 to 17 April 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States of America. Its overarching theme was “ Africa and people of African descent: United forreparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence .” In addition to the opening of the session, the general debate, and the side events, four thematic plenary discussions were held on the following topics: Reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent; Human rights of women and girls of African descent; Policymaking and systemic racism: a human rightsbased approach; and Artificial intelligence and digital justice for people of African descent. The session was attended by more than 800 participants representing Member States, United Nations entities, civil society representatives, academic institutions, and the private sector from 90 countries. In addition, more than 80 side events were organized by the...

The fourth session of the Permanent Forum will take place from 14 - 17 April 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York . The overarching theme is " Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence ". Panel discussion on artificial intelligence and digital justice for people of African descent. Global calls for reparations for the historical legacies of enslavement and colonialism  gain new urgency in this digital age, where systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated in emerging technologies. This fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, will focus on the roles and contributions of key actors in  shaping and promoting the global agenda for reparatory justice . Discussions on the human rights of women and girls of African descent will  reflect on the integration of an intersectional perspective , looking notably at race and gender, in the global agendas for reparatory jus...

The fourth session of the Permanent Forum will take place from 14 - 17 April 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York. The overarching theme is " Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence ". Panel discussion on policy-making and systemic racism: a human rights-based approach. Global calls for reparations for the historical legacies of enslavement and colonialism gain new urgency in this digital age, where systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated in emerging technologies. This fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, will focus on the roles and contributions of key actors in shaping and promoting the global agenda for reparatory justice . Discussions on the human rights of women and girls of African descent will reflect on the integration of an intersectional perspective , looking notably at race and gender, in the global agendas for reparatory justice and for di...

 The fourth session of the Permanent Forum will take place from 14 - 17 April 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York. The overarching theme is " Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence ". Panel discussion on reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent Global calls for reparations for the historical legacies of enslavement and colonialism gain new urgency in this digital age, where systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated in emerging technologies. This fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, will focus on the roles and contributions of key actors in shaping and promoting the global agenda for reparatory justice. Discussions on the human rights of women and girls of African descent will reflect on the integration of an intersectional perspective, looking notably at race and gender, in the global agendas for reparatory justice and for digital jus...

The fourth session of the Permanent Forum will take place from 14 - 17 April 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York. The overarching theme is " Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence ". Panel discussion on reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent Global calls for reparations for the historical legacies of enslavement and colonialism gain new urgency in this digital age, where systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated in emerging technologies. This fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, will focus on the roles and contributions of key actors in shaping and promoting the global agenda for reparatory justice. Discussions on the human rights of women and girls of African descent will reflect on the integration of an intersectional perspective, looking notably at race and gender, in the global agendas for reparatory justice and for digital just...

The fourth session of the Permanent Forum will take place from 14 - 17 April 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York. The overarching theme is " Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence ". Continuation of the General debate Global calls for reparations for the historical legacies of enslavement and colonialism gain new urgency in this digital age, where systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated in emerging technologies. This fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, will focus on the roles and contributions of key actors in shaping and promoting the global agenda for reparatory justice. Discussions on the human rights of women and girls of African descent will reflect on the integration of an intersectional perspective, looking notably at race and gender , in the global agendas for reparatory justice and for digital justice. The session will also examine how a hu...

    The fourth session of the Permanent Forum will take place from 14 - 17 April 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York. The overarching theme is " Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence ". Opening of the session General debate Global calls for reparations for the historical legacies of enslavement and colonialism gain new urgency in this digital age, where systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated in emerging technologies. This fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, will focus on the roles and contributions of key actors in shaping and promoting the global agenda for reparatory justice. Discussions on the human rights of women and girls of African descent will reflect on the integration of an intersectional perspective, looking notably at race and gender, in the global agendas for reparatory justice and for digital justice. The session will also examine how...

Madame Chair, President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Dear young people, I greet you in peace, always of concern for African people all over the world and the noble pursuit of the United Nations. It is an honor for me to join you at this esteemed Forum. Since its establishment four years ago, UNFPA has been present at every session, a testament to our unflinching support for the crucial mandate of this Forum. As a people, we have come to learn through history – our shared African history – that progress comes when we rise and demand long overdue justice. Referencing the great Frederick Douglass: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning, they want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.” And so the struggle for full freedom carries on, in this generation spearheaded by the African Unio...