From pledges to action.

“People of colour, people of African descent, marginalised communities, Indigenous communities […] we have to advocate in the best way that we possibly can for justice, human rights, equal opportunity,” said Emelda Davis — whose traditional name is Waskam — a community leader, activist, and the first Black woman elected to the Sydney City Council in Australia.

In 2023, Davis participated in the regional meeting for Asia Pacific on the first International Decade for People of African Descent.

“To go to the United Nations really helped me as the first Black woman elected to the City of Sydney council in its 180 years [of existence],” Davis said. “It was such a huge benefit to educating white Australia. Coupled with social media, it gave a huge exposure to the fact that we exist in this country, and self-determination is really key.”

Davis, also an Australian South Sea Islander, has worked across both corporate and grassroots sectors, advising State, Federal and Commonwealth agencies on culturally specific Indigenous knowledge.

On 31 August, the world marks the International Day for People of African Descent — a day that this year also brings a spotlight on the significance of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, which will be observed from 2025 to 2034.

“The Second Decade for People of African Descent can only enhance the good work that’s already done by community groups and inspire,” Davis said.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk welcomed the designation of the next ten years as the Second International Decade.

“Racial justice demands collective action.“ UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk


He called for bold action to deliver real change and urged States to prioritize the elaboration and adoption of a UN Declaration on the respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of people of African descent.

For Shaden Qous, an Afro-Palestinian law graduate, artist and activist, the International Decade resonates directly with her lived experience.

“As an Afro-Palestinian woman in Jerusalem, I navigate a complex intersection between global racism faced by people of African descent and the ongoing struggle of Palestinians against colonialism and discrimination,” Qous said.

“However, recognition and justice must be accompanied by practical, on-the-ground initiatives — projects, policies, and community programs — to ensure acknowledgment translates into real and tangible justice,” she said.

Turning recognition into action

“It is important that this Second International Decade be guided by the lived experiences, knowledge, and expertise of people of African descent, and that implementation of its programme of activities meaningfully reflects and addresses their demands and needs,” said Sara Hamood, Chief of the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section at UN Human Rights.

There is indeed an urgency to achieve tangible progress.

Davis advocates for Australian South Sea Islanders, First Nations peoples and people of African descent and believes that at least five Decades for people of African descent are needed before they can enjoy the same rights as others.

“Change must accelerate on three fronts: recognition, justice, and development,” Hamood said.

“Human right defenders have been using art, education, and advocacy to celebrate the heritage of people of African descent, expose racism, confront the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, spark dialogue across cultures, and mobilize communities,” she added.

Qous is a dancer with “El-Funoun Dance Troupe” and she works to preserve the collective memory and heritage of Afro-Palestinians in Jerusalem, including through the art of mural painting.

For her, art is not just a form of expression or beauty, it is a way to reveal hidden power structures and give voice to marginalized stories, especially those of Afro-Palestinians.

“Art is not about beautifying reality — it is a tool of challenge and resistance, enabling people to reshape narratives and demand recognition and justice in tangible ways.“ Shaden Qous, Palestinian human rights defender of African descent Qous added that art creates a space where history meets the present, turning memory into a call to action and connecting identity with responsibility.

For Davis, many people are boxed in their identities and lived experiences, but that the term ‘people of African descent’ is key, as it gives them much more inclusivity.

“I'm not just an African Australian, I am a person of African descent, as well as all my other identities,” she said. 

Justice and acceptance

The implementation of the programme of activities of the International Decade goes hand in hand with implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action — in other words, States’ international human rights obligations and commitments to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

“Acceptance is key. Belonging and acceptance build on the resilience that we already have but it also empowers.“ Emelda Davis, Australian human rights defender of African descent


Türk said that 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 healthcare to education and political representation.

“Damaging stereotypes fuel racially motivated violence, hate speech, and supremacist ideologies that threaten their safety and dignity,” he said.

The Agenda for transformative change for racial justice and equality contains 20 urgently needed measures to end systemic racism, address racial discrimination, confront the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, and deliver reparatory justice.

“Reparatory justice is essential to dismantling systemic racism and transforming the present and future for Africans and people of African descent,” said Hamood.

Building a future together

“By 2034, I hope to see real progress toward justice and dignity for people of African descent, not just in words, but in practice — especially in places still affected by colonial legacies and structural discrimination,” Qous said.

She draws strength from the legacy of her late father, Mousa Qous. A respected Afro-Palestinian writer, community leader, anti-racist, and journalist who worked on fundamental issues such as the right to nationality and identification documents, as well as raising awareness about the struggles of people of African descent in Palestine.

“He taught me that awareness comes before responsibility, emphasizing the importance of understanding our reality and history as an African-Palestinian community in Jerusalem,” Qous said. “He believed deeply in the role of art — as a cultural, national, and activist tool — to preserve collective memory, strengthen identity, and resist the occupation.”

Her primary focus is liberation from colonialism, while also supporting all oppressed peoples worldwide facing indirect colonialism or its lasting effects.

“The Human Rights Council should support communities of African descent in development, to protect their rights, and ensure their meaningful participation in decision-making,” Qous said. “Additionally, it must expose the legacies of colonialism and global power structures and work to address them, ensuring real justice and tangible dignity for all affected peoples worldwide.”

Türk said that this International Day is a powerful reminder that we need to intensify the fight against racism, for a just and equitable future for all.

“Justice denied to people of African descent is a denial of our shared humanity,” he concluded.