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OHCHR and the Second International Decade for People of African Descent 2025-2034
On 17 December 2024, the General Assembly adopted resolution 79/193, by which it proclaimed the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, with the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”. The Second International Decade opened on 1 January 2025 and will end on 31 December 2034.
The General Assembly decided to extend the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent adopted in its resolution 69/16 of 2014, which established the following objectives:
- To strengthen national, regional and international action and cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent and their full and equal participation in all aspects of society;
- To promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies;
- To adopt and strengthen national, regional and international legal frameworks in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and to ensure their full and effective implementation.
Key documents
A/RES/68/237
General Assembly resolution proclaiming the International Decade for People of African Descent
Fact sheet: People of African Descent
Role of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is the coordinator of the Decade. In this capacity, UN Human Rights:
- Supports States and other stakeholders to take action to accelerate the implementation of the programme of activities, grounded in the solutions identified by people of African descent
- Promotes and raises awareness on issues affecting people of African descent and on their diverse heritage and culture to foster recognition, justice and development
- Supports the launch, mid-term review and final assessment of the Second International Decade
- Organizes the annual Fellowship programme for people of African descent, which to date has helped to empower more than 80 fellows from 32 countries
- Prepares annual reports for the Secretary-General
- Updates the OHCHR Anti-Discrimination database
Videos
Recent publications
Reports
See reports and publications of the first International Decade
Call for inputs
Logo
The logo of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent is available in all UN official languages. To submit a request for permission to use the logo, please follow the guidelines and complete the relevant form here. The request and any other inquiry should be sent to: ohchr-ards@un.org