Background

In its resolution 68/237, the General Assembly proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent to be observed from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2024, with the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.” Subsequently, the General Assembly adopted a programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent, which requested the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly an annual progress report on the implementation of activities of the Decade (GA resolution 69/16, para. 29(b)).

The programme of activities for the implementation of the Decade recognizes the need to address “the untold suffering and evils inflicted on millions of men, women and children as a result of slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, genocide and past tragedies,” with a view to restoring the dignity of victims, realizing reconciliation and healing, and reversing lasting consequences. In this connection, this year’s annual report will focus on addressing various issues related to reparatory justice for people of African descent.

Objectives

This call for written submission aims to inform the preparation of the 2023 report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the implementation of the programme of activities of the International Decade for People of African Descent to be presented to the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

OHCHR would welcome information from States, relevant human rights bodies, organs and mechanisms of the United Nations, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, international, regional, subregional and non-governmental organizations, including organizations of people of African descent, national human rights institutions and other stakeholders, concerning the implementation of the programme of activities for the International Decade for People of African Descent.

In particular, OHCHR would welcome information on measures that have been undertaken at local, national, regional and international levels to address past legacies, including enslavement, the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, colonialism, apartheid and genocide, with a view to achieving reparatory justice for people of African descent, including information on:

• Truth-seeking measures;
• Public apology and acknowledgement;
• Memorialization measures;
• Measures that aim at putting an end to the long-lasting consequences of the above-mentioned past legacies and at guaranteeing non-recurrence, including measures to address systemic racism and racial discrimination, special measures, and development policies and programmes, among others;
• Any other forms of reparation, including restitution, rehabilitation, and compensation;
• The effective participation of people of African descent and their communities in the design, implementation and evaluation of the above-mentioned measures;
• The integration of an intersectional approach in the design, implementation and evaluation of the above-mentioned measures;
• Any challenges and lessons learnt in relation to efforts towards achieving reparatory justice for people of African descent.

In addition, OHCHR would welcome information on any new laws, regulations, policies and other relevant measures, including practices and initiatives, which have been undertaken to implement the programme of activities of the Decade at local, national, regional and international in 2022 and 2023.

How inputs will be used

Inputs received will inform the inform the preparation of the 2023 report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the implementation of the programme of activities of the International Decade for People of African Descent.