From Recognition to Social Progress: The Start of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent

31 August marked the International Day of People of African Descent, spotlighting the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, to be observed from 2025 to 2034. The Second International Decade is an initiative led by the United Nations and supported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It aims to promote recognition, justice, and development for people of African descent by addressing systemic racism, honor the legacy of the African diaspora, and advance human rights and social progress.

Building on the first Decade (2015–2024), this new chapter reaffirms international commitment to eliminate racial discrimination and ensure full inclusion of people of African descent in all aspects of public life.

From Pledges to Action

The Decade is grounded in the principles of recognition, justice, and development, aiming to dismantle the systemic barriers that people of African descent continue to face, such as racism in housing, healthcare, education, and political representation.

The initiative aligns with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and supports the UN Agenda for Transformative Change, which includes measures to address the legacies of enslavement and deliver reparatory justice.

Centering Lived Experiences

The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, welcomed the designation, calling for bold action and urging States to adopt a UN Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent.

For community leader Emelda Davis, the first Black woman elected to the Sydney City Council, the Decade is a chance to amplify visibility and affirm self-determination. “It gave huge exposure to the fact that we exist in this country,” she said.

Shaden Qous, an Afro-Palestinian artist and activist in Jerusalem, uses art to preserve history and demand justice. “Recognition and justice must be accompanied by practical, on-the-ground initiatives,” she said. “Art is a tool of resistance.”

A Call for Real Progress

Activists stress that progress must go beyond words. By 2034, the goal is not only to acknowledge the rights of people of African descent but to ensure they are upheld in practice through policies, programs, and meaningful participation in decision-making. As the international community embarks on this Second Decade, the message is clear: now is the time to turn recognition into action and commit to real, lasting change. Racial justice remains at the core of inclusive social progress and the foundation for building equitable societies where the rights, dignity, and contributions of all people, especially those of African descent, are fully recognized and protected.

Read the article by OHCHR here.