August 03, (THEWILL) – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has created a new platform to improve the lives of African descendants.
The platform, United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, was adopted by a unanimous resolution of the 193-member body
The 10-member advisory body, consisting of five members nominated by governments to be elected by the General Assembly, and five additional members appointed by the council, will work closely with the Human Rights Council.
The modalities for the creation of the Forum, commenced in November 2014, when the General Assembly officially launched the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024).
The UNGA had condemned the spread of racist extremist movements and the resurgent scourges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
However, following a report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) after the death of George Floyd in 2020, a panel of experts was inaugurated by the Human Rights Council to investigate systemic racism in policing against people of African descent.
High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, had highlighted the “compounding inequalities” and “stark socioeconomic and political marginalisation” faced by Africans and people of African descent.
The report, had also noted that “no state has comprehensively accounted for the past or for the current impact of systemic racism”.
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