A Year Dedicated to People of African Descent

"Around 200 million people who identify themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent. In proclaiming this International Year, the international community is recognising that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

This International Year
offers a unique opportunity to
redouble our efforts to fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance that
affect people of African
descent everywhere.
Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

People of African descent are acknowledged in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a specific victim group who continue to suffer racial discrimination as the historic legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Even Afro-descendants who are not directly descended from slaves face the racism and racial discrimination that still persist today, generations after the slave trade ended.

“ The International Year must become a milestone in the on-going campaign to advance the rights of people of African descent. It deserves to be accompanied by activities that fire the imagination, enhance our understanding of the situation of people of African descent and are a catalyst for real and positive change in the daily lives of the millions of Afro-descendants around the world. ”

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent (in resolution 64/169) citing the need to strengthen national actions and regional and international cooperation to ensure that people of African descent fully enjoy economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights. The Year further aims to advance the integration of people of African descent into all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and to promote a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture. The International Year for People of African Descent was launched on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2010, by the UN Secretary General.

The main objective of the Year is to raise awareness of the challenges facing people of African descent. It is hoped that the Year will foster discussions that will generate proposals for solutions to tackle these challenges.

During 2011 a number of international events will be held. On 2 March in Geneva, during the high level segment of the UN Human Rights Council, a panel discussion with the participation of Member States and civil society will address the human rights concerns of people of African descent. That same week, on 7 March, a full day’s discussion will be held by the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, also meeting in Geneva. This discussion will serve to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of racial discrimination against people of African descent, and to promote visibility of their diverse heritage and culture. Also in March, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent will discuss the International Year. This meeting will be held in Geneva from 28 March to 1 April. The International Year will close with the convening of a high-level debate on the achievements of the goals and objectives of the Year, to be held in New York during the regular session of the UN General Assembly beginning in September.

A coalition of civil society organizations formed to promote the Year will hold memorials, seminars, cultural events and other activities around the world to mark the Year and raise awareness of the contribution of African descendants to our world heritage. Everyone, and in particular people of African descent themselves, are encouraged to participate in and contribute to the success of the Year.

The UN General Assembly resolution on the International Year encourages Member States and all relevant donors to contribute funds for activities during the Year."

--The International Year will close with the convening of a high-level debate on the achievements of the goals and objectives of the Year, to be held in New York during the regular session of the UN General Assembly beginning in September...to be followed by a complete Western occupation of the continent and the resultant decimation of the African population, to lay bare the last of nature's untapped resources before our planet earth self-destructs.