The United Nations(UN)’s first-ever International Day for the people of African Descent was observed across the globe on 31st August 2021. The day aims to promote the contributions of the African diaspora across the globe and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against the descents of Africans.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/170 on 16th December 2020 and proclaimed the 31st August of every year as the International Day for People of African Descent.
ii.Costa Rica led the efforts to establish the International Day for People of African Descent.
Note:
Costa Rica changed its political constitution in 2015 and defined itself as a multiethnic and multicultural nation.
Significance of 31st August:
i.31st August marks the end date of the first International Convention of the Negro Peoples of the World 1920.
ii.The convention resulted in the Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World.
African Descents across the globe:
i.Latin America houses more than 134 million people of African heritage
ii.The report of the UN economic commission for the region, ECLAC, states that the people of African heritage suffer from poverty, lack of access to basic services and inequality.
Efforts to Protect the Rights of African Descent:
i.Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in 2001 in Durban, South Africa requested the commission on human rights to
- Establish a working group or other mechanism of the United Nations to study the problems of racial discrimination faced by people of African descent
- make proposals for the elimination of racial discrimination against people of African descent.
Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent was established in 2002.
Other Related observances:
International Decade for People of African Descent: 2015 to 2024:
The UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/68/237 on 23rd December 2013 and proclaimed the decade 2015 to 2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent.
International Year for People of African Descent – 2011:
The UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/64/169 on 18 December 2009 and proclaimed the year 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent.
