It is time to erase the legacy of slavery and colonialism that affects the African diaspora

Philémon Yang spoke at a high-level meeting at United Nations Headquarters to mark the closure International Decade for People of African Descent – a global opportunity to celebrate this population’s often overlooked contributions to human civilization, while highlighting the racial injustice endured over the centuries.

Promote inclusion and fight racism

In declaring the International Decade, the General Assembly adopted a program of work and proposed concrete measures to promote greater inclusion while combating racism, discrimination about race, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Progress has included establishing one Permanent Forum on People of African Descentreport to the United Nations Human Rights Counciland most recently, the declaration of July 25 as International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent.

In addition, for the first time, a number of countries have taken legislative and policy actions and other measures to specifically address issues facing diaspora communities.

There’s no time to rest

However, Mr. Yang warned that “We must not rest on our laurels” because there is still much work to be done.

“Ten years into the Decade, people of African descent still suffer from systemic racism and discrimination – realities rooted in the long legacy of slavery and slavery,” he said. colonialism”.

“We must confront and dismantle these legacies to ensure that people of African descent enjoy the full enjoyment of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.”

He said efforts towards recognition, justice and development must continue and strongly supported the consideration of a Second International Decade to sustain these goals.

Learn and build

A top United Nations human rights official, Ilze Brands Kehris, also agreed with the proposal. Speaking on behalf of the Secretary General, she said the meeting was “a call for faster action, better cooperation and deeper resolve” towards a world free of racism.

The “starting point” requires drawing on the lessons and building on the successes of the soon-to-end International Decade.

Ms Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for People, said: “We need to maintain the momentum we have gained over the past 10 years – new laws and policies, greater recognition of people of African descent and their invaluable contribution to our society”. Rights.

“The declaration of a Second International Decade is key to that goal. It must be inclusive, focused and underpinned by strong leadership and political will.”

Intersectionality and anti-blackness

American civil rights activist and law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” more than 30 years ago to describe various forms of inequality — for example, related to race, gender, ethnicity and class – interact and exacerbate each other.

The co-founder and Executive Director of the African American Policy Forum, a nongovernmental organization (NGO), reflected on the challenges of intersectional research in promoting full participation and equality of people of African descent into all aspects of society.

“The condition of people of African descent globally reflects the intersection of anti-blackness with many social, economic and historical factors, such as high maternal mortality rates and racial disparities. disparities in maternal health across income levels and national and regional borders,” she said.

“The gendered dimensions of intersectionality are also reflected in the vulnerability of men of African descent to State violence and detention – a vulnerability also shared by women in several contexts,” while also noting that access to education, political power, and cultural recognition “can all be read through an intersectional lens.”

Affirming our common humanity

Ms. Crenshaw called on the international community to resist calls to abandon efforts toward greater inclusion.

She cited the late Nelson Mandela, who once told the General Assembly that the global struggle against apartheid in South Africa was not an act of charity but an affirmation of our common humanity. ta.

“So, Let the Second Decade for People of African Descent be a reminder of our common humanity and that we are not completely free until everyone is freeshe said.