Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Le Chef de Cabinet,
Excellencies,

It is a privilege to join you today on this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted more than 75 years ago, proclaimed in its very first article that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. 

This was a promise of hope. 

Yet, dehumanization, marginalization and exclusion continue to affect – and often shape – the lives of Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, people from minority groups, indigenous peoples, migrants and many others around the world. 

Our gathering here today is a solemn reminder of the enduring suffering caused by racial discrimination worldwide.

But it is also a crucial occasion to reaffirm our commitment to combat racial discrimination, and to accelerate action to end this scourge.

And for that, we meet at a decisive moment.

This is the last year of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

It is an opportunity to reflect on the past ten years, take stock of progress and lessons learned, and, where needed, adjust its course in the long road ahead to achieve its goals of recognition, justice and development.  

The Decade has served as a unique platform to facilitate dialogue on how to address the systemic racism and racial discrimination experienced by people of African descent globally, stemming from the legacies of colonialism and enslavement.

It offered concrete recommendations to assist States in fulfilling their core human rights obligations, notably under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and commitments in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

It has prompted several States to adopt national legal and policy frameworks recognizing the rights of people of African descent and prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin.

And through the five regional meetings held under its auspices, the Decade has also deepened our understanding of the challenges people of African descent face.

From political participation to employment and housing, education and health, to their interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system.  In many countries, people of African descent continue to face historical and social invisibility, including as a result of a lack of data disaggregated by race or ethnic origin.

This body of work, under the International Decade, as well as that by UN anti-racism human rights mechanisms and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, points to the need to adopt comprehensive approaches to ensure periodic monitoring, assessment and revision of wide-ranging measures to ensure substantive equality, guaranteeing equal access to opportunities, resources and decision-making power.

Excellencies,

The International Decade has also been a much-needed celebration of the histories and invaluable contributions of people of African descent to numerous societies worldwide.

Their resilience, strength and struggles against centuries of oppression and marginalization must inspire us all to urgently address the structural and institutional barriers that perpetuate racial discrimination and inequality today.

And I am pleased to say that steps are being taken in this direction.

Last December, we marked the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The high-level event, held in Geneva on 11 and 12 December, resulted in a number of human rights pledges towards the elimination of racial discrimination, including, for example, enacting public policies related to access to social and economic rights, the implementation of national action plans against racial discrimination, or national awareness raising campaigns. Many human rights mechanisms have issued similar recommendations to Member States.

The UN Human Rights Office and the UN anti-racism mechanisms, including the recently established Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and the International Independent Expert Mechanism to advance racial justice and equality in law enforcement, stand ready to work with States, UN entities, civil society actors, and other stakeholders to deepen the dialogue and collaboration on these issues.

Excellencies,

Combatting racial discrimination is – and has been -- at the core of our human rights work.

In response to the murder of George Floyd and the global mass protests that ensued, the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued the 2021 “Four-Point Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality”.

The Agenda lays out not only a vision, but actionable recommendations for States:  to reverse cultures of denial; to dismantle systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in all areas of life; to confront the legacies of enslavement, the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and colonialism; and deliver reparatory justice.

Last year, the High Commissioner unpacked key aspects of this Agenda in a Guidance Note that supports States to fulfil their obligation to facilitate meaningful, inclusive and safe participation of people of African descent.

Echoing the calls by the High Commissioner, the latest report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Decade further recommends that States combine measures such as restitution, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition in order to build societies that are free from systemic racism and racial discrimination,

Mr. President,

As we can see, recommendations that chart the way forward are available.

Now, it is time to act.

It is essential that efforts towards recognition, justice, and development for people of African descent be pursued vigorously beyond 2024. I joined others in calling for Second Decade to be proclaimed.

In doing so, we must listen to, respect, and secure the perspectives of those impacted by compounding forms of discrimination, marginalization and violence, including women from racial, religious or ethnic minorities.

To that end, the UN Human Rights Office encourages States to engage in consultative processes and contribute to the drafting of a United Nations declaration on the promotion and full respect of human rights of people of African descent, as well as to the elaboration of complementary standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Excellencies,

Racism is not abstract. It deeply and directly affects people and further fractures already divided societies.

In some situations, it is worrying to witness some political leaders enabling and fuelling intolerance and hatred towards specific groups though inflammatory rhetoric, which is further amplified by social media, artificial intelligence and other new digital technologies.

This only reinforces the need to take firm and resolute action. It is our collective human rights duty to fight hatred and racism and to build inclusive societies where diversity is celebrated, and where every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

Together, we can ensure that the next Decade brings true recognition, justice, and equal access to development for people of African descent and all those who suffer racial discrimination, marginalization and oppression.

Thank you.