United Nations marks International Day for People of African Descent

The United Nations marks the International Day for People of African Descent on August 31. Under the theme ‘Expanding the human rights of people of African descent’, the observance aims to reaffirm commitments to justice, recognition, and development for these communities.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the organization’s commitment to dismantling systemic racism and removing barriers that limit the rights and potential of people of African descent globally. The celebrations are part of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, which seeks to combat persistent inequalities and the lasting impacts of slavery and colonialism.

Guterres also warned of a reversal in progress regarding these rights, driven by false narratives that minimize lived realities and erase history. The initiative calls for the protection of economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights, alongside equal access to education, employment, health, and housing.