High-Level Meeting on International Decade for People of African Descent

Ten years ago, the General Assembly proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent, to be observed from 2015 to 2024 with the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development” (A/RES/68/237) and subsequently adopted its
programme of activities (A/RES/69/16).

As featured in the programme of activities, the International Decade was “a unique opportunity to underline the important contribution made by people of African descent to our societies and to propose concrete measures to promote their full inclusion and to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”.

Over the past ten years, the International Decade for people of African Descent has provided a framework to foster action by States, international and regional organizations, national human rights bodies, and non-governmental organizations, including of people of African descent.

As a result, several States have, for the first time, taken legislative and policy actions as well as other measures to specifically address issues faced by people of African descent.

The International Decade has also contributed to the progressive consolidation and increased visibility of an international agenda for people of African descent – with major outcomes such as the establishment of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in 2021. Moreover, in 2022, discussions were initiated by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on a draft United Nations declaration on the respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of people of African descent.

The high-level meeting will be an opportunity to:

• Take stock of the progress and steps taken in the implementation of the programme of activities of the International Decade during the period 2015-2024;
• Identify continuing and emerging challenges, in the protection and promotion of the human rights of people of African descent worldwide;
• Identify recommendations on further steps to be taken in order to strengthen the protection and promotion of the human rights of people of African descent globally beyond 2024, including through the proclamation of a Second International Decade for People of African Descent and strengthening the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and relevant recommendations by the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN anti-racism mechanisms, and other relevant stakeholders.

In order to promote a constructive and inclusive dialogue, participation in the high-level meeting will be open to Member States and Observers of the General Assembly, the United Nations system, international and regional organizations, as well as representatives of
nongovernmental organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC.

Accessibility arrangements

Delegations are requested to inform the Secretariat of the accessibility requirements of their delegates in order to facilitate participation in meetings. Upon request, adjustments can be made to seating arrangements with a view to enabling the participation of persons with
disabilities.

For individual requests, please contact the Meetings Support Section of the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management (email: accessibilitycentre@un.org; phone: 212 963 7348/9) no later than three working days prior to the meeting.

The high-level meeting will take place in-person on 8 November 2024, from 10 a.m.to 1p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. in the ECOSOC Chamber at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The high-level meeting will consist of an opening commemorative segment followed by three interactive panel discussions that will address the three areas for the implementation of the theme of the International Decade, namely recognition, justice and development.

A more detailed programme will be circulated in due course.

The United Nations Webcast services will provide live streaming coverage of the high-level meeting in all 6 UN official languages as well as on-demand coverage (recorded video) in English and speaker’s original language, through the UN Web TV website.

OPENING COMMEMORATIVE SEGMENT

• H. E. Mr. Philemon Yang, President of the General Assembly
• Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights
• Ms. Kimberlé Crenshaw, Co-Founder & Executive Director of
the African American Policy Forum
• Ms. Edna Liliana Valencia Murillo, journalist, poet and writer
• Statements by Chairs of regional groups for the month of
November 2024 and the Host Country

Panel 1: Recognition
Moderator
• Ms. Epsy Campbell Barr, Member of the UN Permanent Forum
on People of African Descent
Panelists
• Ms. Gay Mc Dougall, Vice-Chair of the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• Mr. José Antonio Aguilar Contreras, Chair of the UN Group of
Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the
Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
• His Excellency James Ndirangu Waweru, ChairpersonRapporteur of the UN Inter-governmental Working Group on
the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action
• Ms. Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social
and Human Sciences, UNESCO (TBC)
• Mr. Kamil Olufowbi, President of Most Influential People of
African Descent (MIPAD)

Panel 2: Justice
Moderator
• Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human
Rights

Panelists
• Ms. Akua Kuenyehia, Chair of the International Independent
Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in
Law Enforcement
• Ms. June Soomer, Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on People
of African Descent
• Ms. Ashwini K.P., UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary
forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance
• Ms. Barryl Biekman, Coordinator of the Human Rights
Commission of Tiye International
• Ms. Dayana Blanco Acendra, General director of ILEX Acción
Jurídica

Panel 3: Development
Moderator
• Dr. Gerry Eijkemans, Director of the Department of Social and
Environmental Determinants for Health Equity, Pan American
Health Organization
Panelists
• Ms. Barbara G. Reynolds, Chair of the UN Working Group of
Experts on People of African Descent
• Ms. Diene Keita, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy
Executive Director-Programme, United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA)
• Ms. Mame-Fatou Niang, Associate Professor of French,
CMU/Columbia and Director, Center for Black European
Studies at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
• Ms. Ana Barreto, Vice-President for Latin America at Planned
Parenthood Global
• Mr. Alando Chia, Co-founder of the Asia-Pacific Network for
People of African Descent

Full Program