UN Secretary-General calls for justice, equality for Africans

On International Day for People of African Descent, marked annually on 31 August, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for justice, dignity and equality for people of African descent everywhere.

In his message, the Secretary-General highlighted the “outstanding” contribution of people of African descent to all spheres of society. He also noted the persistent legacy of slavery and colonialism, including systemic racism, economic and social inequalities, and the digital divide (between those with and without access to digital technologies).

Guterres welcomed the Global Digital Compact, adopted under the 2024 Future Pact, which promotes a multilateral system for everyone, everywhere, as a step forward, and stressed commitments to combat discriminatory and offensive rhetoric in the digital field. The Secretary-General added: “White supremacy and dehumanization are reinforced by social media, and racial bias is often encoded in algorithms.”

The UN chief said: “Eighty years after the United Nations Charter affirmed the equal rights and inherent dignity of every human being, and sixty years after the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, it is long past time to right this historic wrong.”

This year’s International Day is being observed for the first time during the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, which runs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2034. Guterres stressed that the decade, under the theme “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development,” is intended to highlight the importance of the rights of African peoples. He called for the next decade to be a period of “real change,” including work on a United Nations Declaration on Full Respect for the Human Rights of African Peoples. In the first decade, more than 30 countries changed their laws and policies to combat racial discrimination and address the specific challenges faced by people of African descent. To this end, the Permanent Forum was established and new programmes were developed that celebrate the contributions of the diaspora, including women and girls. Building on the progress made between 2015 and 2024, the second decade is dedicated to strengthening global efforts to achieve justice and development for people of African descent and to creating a more equitable future in which their aspirations and rights are fully recognized and respected.