People of African descent across the globe remain exposed to discrimination, underrepresented in decision-making positions, and face higher levels of poverty and unemployment across the world. This harsh reality, and the urgency for action, have been made abundantly clear in recent years with the murder of Georgy Floyd in the United States (2020), Ourry Jalloh in Germany (2005), Alika Ogorchukwa in Italy (2022), and numerous other victims of racial discrimination and police brutality. In addition, people of African descent face systemic discrimination, inequalities, profiling in the public and private spheres most notably in employment, housing, and healthcare. This was patently obvious by the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mendacious discrimination people of African descent who are seeking refuge in Europe from the war in Ukraine face. This situation makes the relevance of today that more important as a rallying call for urgent action.
The first declaration on the rights of people of African descent was adopted in New York in August 1920. A century later, in December 2013, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 68/237, proclaiming 2015 to 2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent, themed “People of African Descent: recognition, justice, and development.” Later, as we found ourselves halfway through the proclaimed decade, the UN declared August 31st as the International Day for People of African Descent, celebrated for the first time in 2021.
This day aims to pay tribute and advocate for the African diaspora’s worldwide contribution and end all forms of discrimination they continue to face. Furthermore, built on the principles of recognition, justice, and development, the international decade aims to: (1) promote, respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people of African descent, (2) promote knowledge and respect for the diverse heritage, culture, and contributions of people of African descent to the development of societies, and (3) adopt and strengthen multi-level legal frameworks according to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, and to ensure their full effective implementation.
Notwithstanding the bureaucratic but no less important efforts of high-level transnational organizations such as the UN, halfway through this international decade and upon the second celebration of the International Day of People of African descent, we are still far away from achieving the objectives set out in December 2013.
Upon writing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the great minds at the table agreed on “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” as its opening sentence. Nonetheless, close to 75 years after its adoption, the concept of freedom and equality remains to be achieved by a significant part of the world’s population. Due to the transatlantic slave trade and colonial rule, people of African descent continue carrying the burden of discrimination, marginalization, and destructive racism. Thus, as important as this celebratory decade and observance day is to highlight the contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies and to actively combat racial discrimination, this endeavor will require more than an International Day. Centuries of condemnable, socially unjust, and extremely dangerous beliefs based on inequality and racial superiority require more action to restructure flawed systems and societal prejudicial perceptions.
The International Day for people of African descent aims to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora around the world, eliminate all forms of discrimination, and contribute to the achievement of the goals set out for the International Decade in some of the most challenging years for the international community. Nonetheless, while the conversation is ongoing, we must ensure that we are giving the space to those who need to be at the forefront of this discussion, which implies representation in decision-making positions, proper and adequate access to non-discriminatory healthcare, and advances in social justice and inclusion policies.
