UN -Chef calls for justice and ‘real change’ for people of African descent

In one message Before the day was released, Mr Guterres honored the “extraordinary” contributions of people of African descent on every atmosphere of human endeavor. The Secretary-General also recognized the ‘long shadows’ of slavery and colonialism, including systemic racism, unequal economies and societies, and the digital gap (between those who can benefit from digital technology and those who have no access).

Mr. Guterres greeted the Digital compact worldwide – taken over in 2024 as part of the Pact for the futureThat a multilateral system promotes today’s reality and for everyone, everywhere – as a step forward, mentions that mentions obligations to tackle discrimination and hate speech in digital technologies. “White supremacy and dehuman stories,” wrote the UN chef, “are reinforced by social media, and, too often, racial bias is coded in algorithms.”

“Eighty years after the United Nations charter, the equal rights and inherent dignity of every person, and sixty years since the approval of the International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination”He concluded,” it is long beyond the time to correct historical mistakes. “

A decade of action

The international day of this year is the first to take place during the second international decade for people of African descent, which runs from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2034. The decade that embraces the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development,” The aim is to emphasize the importance of recognizing the rights and contributions of people of African descent. Mr Guterres has called on the next ten years to stimulate ‘real change’, including working on a statement by the United Nations regarding the full respect of the human rights of the African Descent.

In the first decade, more than 30 countries changed their laws and policy to tackle racial discrimination and to tackle specific problems that are confronted with people of African descent – in some cases for the first time. The Permanent Forum about people of African descentWas created and new international days were launched to celebrate the contributions of the Diaspora, including those of women and girls.

Building on the progress between 2015 and 2024, wants to strengthen global efforts for justice and development for individuals of African descent and a more just future in the second decade, in which the ambitions and rights of people of African descent are fully recognized, honored and celebrated.