Upcoming Events

Permanent Forum on People of African Descent – 3rd session (16 to 19 April 2024)

The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent will hold its annual session from 16 to 19 April 2024 in room XX at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. This third session is organized under the theme: “The Second International Decade for People of African Descent: Addressing Systemic Racism, Reparatory Justice and Sustainable Development”.

It will be the opportunity to go through the barriers and obstacles in the achievements of the programme of activities of the first International Decade and discuss the focus of the requested second International Decade. The plenary will also address issues such as the role of reparations in sustainable development and economic justice, and the impact of systemic racism in education. The cultures and contributions of people of African descent in societies will be celebrated via a dedicated discussion and cultural performances and exhibitions.

Many parallel events organized by civil society and other actors are scheduled to take place in Geneva, but also online.

For information and registration, please consult the following link.

Special Event - Extending the Decade of People of African Descent: Continuing the Journey Towards Recognition, Justice, and Development in Asia and the Pacific Region

In the context of the Regional meeting for Asia and the Pacific region on the International Decade for People of African Descent, the former UN fellows of African descent living in Asia and the Pacific region organize a Special Event to highlight the voices of people of African descent in the region and create awareness of the importance of extending the International Decade for People of African descent beyond 2024 and there still a lot to be done to achieve the Decade’s three key themes: recognition, justice, and development. The Special Event will also be an opportunity to propose concrete recommendations for the way forward.

The event will take place on Tuesday 16 January 2024, from 12:30 to 13:30 CET online and at the International Conference Center for Geneva (rue de Varembé 17 1202 Geneva).

For more information, please consult the following link.

Registration: https://indico.un.org/event/1009472/

Special Event – Voices of the Decade: Connecting Cultures through Art and Media

In the context of the Regional meeting for Asia and the Pacific region on the International Decade for People of African Descent, OHCHR organizes a Special Event to highlight the diverse experiences of people of African descent in Asia, featuring the voices of two prominent figures of African descent living in the region, namely Sam Okyere, a prominent Ghanaian television personality currently residing in the Republic of Korea and Rene Hoshino, a Cameroon-born and Japan-raised manga creator.

The discussion will shed light on how, through their respective work and public engagement, they seek to contribute to building a message of mutual understanding that can surmount differences in birthplace or skin colour. The discussion will also address challenges they have faced and ways to overcome these challenges.

The event will take place on Monday 15 January 2024, from 12:30 to 13:30 CET online and at the International Conference Center for Geneva (rue de Varembé 17 1202 Geneva).

For more information, please consult the following link.

Registration: https://indico.un.org/event/1009472/

Regional Meeting for Asia Pacific on the International Decade for People of African Descent (15 - 16 January 2024, HYBRID MEETING)

As part of the awareness raising campaign for the International Decade for People of African Descent (A/RES/69/16), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is organizing two-day regional meetings in different parts of the world. The fifth regional meeting, for the Asia Pacific region, will take place on 15-16 January 2024 in hybrid format, with possibly of remote participation at the International Conference Center for Geneva (rue de Varembé 17, Geneva, Switzerland).

The regional meetings provide an opportunity to address the three sub-themes of the Decade: Recognition, Justice and Development.

More information to registration and apply for financial support here.

Call for written inputs: The human rights situation of Africans and people of African descent in the Asia Pacific region

Towards Eliminating Systemic Racism and Discrimination Against People of African Descent (29 March 2023, 11:00 a.m. EST, UNHQ, New York)

The United Nations Senior Africans Group (UNSAG) and the Republic of Ghana, in partnership with the United Nations Anti-Racism Team (ART), the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, the Office of the Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, and the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent are co-convening the first in a series of global advocacy events, “Towards Eliminating Racism and Discrimination Against People of African Descent”.

he event will be chaired by Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS, UNSAG Co-Chair and is designed to galvanize strategic support for accelerated implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent Programme of Activities; deepen the conversation on gaps, progress, and unfinished business areas to address systemic racism and other prejudices at the United Nations and beyond; and advance the implementation of the United Nations Strategic Action Plan on addressing racism and promoting dignity for all.

Watch on UN WebTV.

Permanent Forum on People of African Descent 2nd session (30 May 2023 - 02 June 2023)  

Registration: All individuals must register in advance to participate. To apply for financial support, civil society representatives are requested to send this application form (English | Français | Español) to: pfpad@un.org. Deadline for application: 15 March 2023, 11:59 pm CET  

Call for inputs on topics to be considered for discussion during the second session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent: (English | Français | Español).