On Tuesday, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said spoke at the fifth session of the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, where he called reparations “key to dismantling systemic racism.”
Türk called on member states to adopt and enforce laws, policies and practices to combat racism; include young people of African descent and members of civil society at all levels of decision-making; and sustain momentum toward reparative justice. He welcomed progress on racial equality and justice, including anti-discrimination laws and the creation of human rights and equality institutions, but warned that progress was uneven, fragile and often contained.
“Racism and dehumanizing rhetoric still permeate our public institutions, communities and online platforms,” he warned, adding that “digital technologies, including AI, reproduce and reinforce existing prejudices against people of African descent.”
Türk’s comments follow the UN General Assembly passage of resolution A/80/L.48 of March 25 – declaring human trafficking of enslaved Africans and the enslavement of racially motivated chattels of Africans as the gravest crimes against humanity. The resolution, led by Ghana, passed by a vote of 123 to 3, declaring human trafficking and enslavement of Africans the “gravest crime against humanity” due to its “scale, duration, systemic nature, brutality and lasting consequences” for people of African descent. Only Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against the resolution.
The UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent is a consultative body of the United Nations established by General Assembly resolution 75/314 of August 2, 2021. It tasks nations with “improving the security, quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent” and produces advice and recommendations for the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.
The fifth sessionwhich will take place from April 14th to 17th, will discuss opportunities for further development Durban Declaration of 2001a global framework to combat racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, reparative justice in relation to museums and restitution, and youth of African descent as rights holders and agents of change.
