Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
1st Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
Date
05 - 08 December 2022
LOCATION
ROOM XVIII, PALAIS DES NATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is pleased to announce that the first session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent will take place from 5 to 8 December 2022 in Palais des Nations of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
In August 2021, the General Assembly adopted resolution 75/314, which operationalized the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent as “a consultative mechanism for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders” and “as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent.” The Permanent Forum also operates as an advisory body to the Human Rights Council, in line with the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent and in coordination with existing UN mechanisms promoting action to combat racism against people of African descent.
This year’s session will focus on strategies to combat systemic racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The session will be webcast live via UN Web TV.
Watch videos
- 5 December 2022 - Morning & Afternoon
- 6 December 2022 - Morning & Afternoon
- 7 December 2022 - Morning & Afternoon
- 8 December 2022 - Morning & Afternoon
Documentation
- Provisional agenda
- Programme of work (Draft)
- Concept Note on the Thematic Discussions
- Logistic information
- Preliminary conclusions and recommendations
STATEMENTS
High Level Opening Segment
- H.E. António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations
- H.E. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- H.E. Francia Marquez, Vice President of Colombia
- H.E. Federico Villegas, President of the UN Human Rights Council
- H.E. Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund
- The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Canada
- H.E. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization
- H.E. Ms. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS
Introductory Statements by Members of the Permanent Forum
Member States
- African Group
- Argentina
- Barbados
- Barbados - Hon. Ryan Straughn
- Brazil
- Canada
- Canada- Systemic Racism
- Canada- Equality
- Cuba
- European Union
- European Union - UN Declaration
- Finland
- Guatemala
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jamaica - Reparatory Justice
- Lithuania
- Namibia
- Peru
- Portugal
- South Africa
- South Africa – Systemic Racism
- The Bahamas
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Venezuela - Climate Justice
- Venezuela - Equality for all
- Venezuela - Reparatory Justice
- Venezuela - UN Declaración
General Debate
- Experts
- NGOs
- African Diaspora Collective USA Inc
- AI for the People
- Black Belt Coalition for Human Rights
- Black Class Action
- Centro de Estudios Afromexicanos Tembembe
- Corporación Agencia Nacional Étnica
- EDFU Foundation
- European Network Against Racism
- International Association Against Torture
- International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana
- Just Making a Change for Families
- La Asociación de Mujeres de la Costa de Oaxaca
- National Conference of Black Lawyers
- Norwegian Center against Racism
- Pueblos Afrodescendientes RedLad
- Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l'homme
- Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
- Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference II
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- The Association of Mixed Race Irish
- The Daniel initiative
- The Federal School Discipline and Climate Coalition
- The Open University, Milton Keynes
- Vickie Casanova-Willis
- Women Against Mass Incarceration
The Fight against Systemic Racism – Future Policymaking for People of African Descent
- Panellists
- NGOs
- Africa Caribbean Heritage Alliance
- AFRORESISTANCE
- AI for the People
- Ayiti Demen
- Black Alliance for Just Immigration
- Cumbe Internacional Afrodescendiente
- EurAsia Forum
- European Network Against Racism
- FLACSO México
- Fundación Cónclave Investigativo de las Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales
- Ile Orunmila Ogunda Bede
- ILEX Acción Jurídica
- International Association for Human Rights and Social Development
- International Civil Working Group for the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent
- International Civil Working Group for the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent II
- Maria Angélica Iguaracema Rodrigues da Costa
- Norwegian Center against Racism
- Organisasi Papua Merdeka
- Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
- Solidarity for Indigenous Papuans
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- The Federal School Discipline and Climate Coalition’s
- The Pennsylvania Council of Churches
- Washington Office on Latin America
- Women's All Points Bulletin
- World Council of Churches
Inclusion of People of African Descent in the Sustainable Development Agenda: The Case for Climate Justice
- Panellists
- NGOs
Inclusion of People of African Descent in the Sustainable Development Agenda: The Case for Reparatory Justice
- Panellists
- NGOs
- Alpha Panama Chapter Chartering Group
- Ayiti Demen
- Bobby Wright
- Caribbean Freedom Project
- Community Healing Network
- Coordinación Etnica Nacional de Paz
- Ekemini Uwan
- Health Commission for the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
- Health Commission for the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America II
- ImmigrantsCAN
- International Association for Human Rights and Social Development
- International Movement for Reparations
- International Movement for Reparations_Recommendations
- Jephta Nguherimo
- Open Society Africa
- Solidarity for Indigenous Papuans
- State of The African Diaspora 6th Region (SOAD) in Ethiopia
Connecting the Past and Future – A United Nations Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent
- Panellists
- NGOs
- Abel Aronatengui
- AI for the People
- Angelo Damas
- Ayiti Demen
- Black Alliance for Just Immigration
- BLAM UK
- Children's Rights
- Coalición de Comunidades Afrodescendientes de la OEA
- Geneva for Human Rights
- Instituto Luiz Gama
- LaWana Richmond
- Mouvement International pour les Reparations
- Organización para el Desarrollo de Corquín
- Owan Lay González
- Solidarity for Indigenous Papuans
- Unite Maroon Indigenous Peoples
- Vickie Casanova-Willis
Connecting the Past and the Future – Equality for All People of African Descent
- Panellists
- NGOs
- African Communities Together
- Black Alliance for Just Immigration
- Center for Disability Rights
- Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today
- Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers)
- Grupo Asesor de la Sociedad Civil ONU Mujer
- ImmigrantsCAN
- Instituto Silvio Almeida
- International Association for Human Rights and Social Development
- International Movement for Reparations
- Juventud Garífuna y Afrodescendiente Guatemalteca
- La Red de Mujeres Afrolatinoamericana, Afrocaribeña y de la Diáspora
- Mothers and Midwives Together across the Diaspora
- Mouvement International pour les Reparations
- Panafrican Cultural Communications
- Tiye International
The future work of the Permanent Forum: Feedback from participants
- NGOs
- Acorn Center for Restoration and Freedom
- Afro Empowerment Center Denmark
- AI for the People
- Alpha Panama Chapter Chartering Group
- Ayiti Demen
- Balanta B'urassa History & Genealogy Society in America
- Black Doctorates Matter
- Centre for Heritage
- Christopher Jones
- Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
- Consejo Permanente de Afrodescendientes de América y el Caribe
- Coordinación Etnica Nacional de Paz
- EurAsia Forum
- Fondation MULUMBA International pour les Personnes d'Ascendance Africaine
- Glenis Maria Gomez
- Good Music Pro Embajada Cultural Rastafari de la Música Reggae de Panamá
- ImmigrantsCAN
- INNOVATE INC Civil Society
- Internacional de servicios públicos
- International Association for Human Rights and Social Development
- Juan Àvila Abrahams
- Kerry McLean
- Kofi Anyidoho
- Most Influential People of African Descent
- Mouvement International pour les Réparations
- Nicole Ndongala
- Odelia Dennis Patrickson
- Organización ambiente y desarrollo sostenible del foro permanente de pueblos tribales
- Ornette D Clennon
- Out of Hand Theater
- Solidarity for Indigenous Papuans
- Southern Center for Human Rights
- Thandi Soko-de Jong
- The Pennsylvania Council of Churches
- Tse Anye Kevin
- Unión de Mujeres Negras en Puerto Rico
- United Maroon Indigenous Peoples
- Universal Negro Improvement Association
- Waleska Miguel Batista
- Women's All Points Bulletin
- World Council of Churches
- World Council of Churches II
- Yacila Perea Palacios
Registration to participate in the Permanent Forum
All stakeholders advancing the rights of people of African descent are welcome to participate in the Permanent Forum session. Member States, United Nations specialized agencies and bodies, national human rights institutions, equality bodies, civil society representatives and organizations of people of African descent are especially invited to attend and contribute to the discussions.
All individuals must register in advance to participate.
Registration is open until December 1st.
Please register on this page: https://indico.un.org/event/1000570/.
Guidelines for Organizers of Online Side Events
The Permanent Forum welcomes all stakeholders interested in organizing side events to expand discussions beyond the plenary of the session.
Please see the detailed Guidelines for organizers of online side events.