UN marks Day for People of African Descent with call for justice and equality – JURIST

The United Nations observed the International Day for People of African Descent on Sunday with leaders urging the global community to advance justice, dignity, and equality.

Secretary-General António Guterres praised the “extraordinary” contributions of African peoples??while stressing that the legacies of slavery and colonialism continue to cast “long shadows” in the form of systemic racism, economic inequality, and the digital divide.

The Secretary-General highlighted how white supremacy, dehumanizing narratives, and racial bias have found a new life online, amplified by social media networks and reinforced through content algorithms. He welcomed the adoption of the Global Digital Compact in 2024 as part of the Pact for the Future by the UN, noting its commitments to combat discrimination and hate speech in digital spaces.

This year’s observance is particularly significant as it inaugurates the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, from 2025-2034, under the theme “Recognition, Justice, and Development.” Adopted by the General Assembly in December 2024, the initiative builds on the first decade, during which more than 30 countries revised laws and policies to address racial discrimination. The decade also saw the creation of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and the establishment of international days to celebrate diaspora contributions, including those of women and girls.

Looking ahead, Guterres called for the new decade to deliver “real change,” which prospectively includes the drafting of a UN Declaration on the full respect of the human rights of people of African descent. He urged governments and international communities to treat the coming years as a “decade of action” in which nations will meaningfully address historic wrongs while safeguarding the rights across the globe.

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