As part of the awareness raising campaign for the International Decade for People of African Descent (A/RES/69/16), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is organizing regional meetings. The fourth regional meeting, for the Middle East, will take place from 31 October to 1 November 2022 in a hybrid setting, Room XXI at the Palais des Nations of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

The regional meetings provide an opportunity to address the three sub-themes of the Decade: “Recognition”, “Justice” and “Development”.

The objectives of this regional meeting will be to:

• Raise awareness about the programme of activities of the International Decade for People of African Descent in the Middle East region;
• Strengthen national, regional and international cooperation and facilitating the exchange of good practices;
• Promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the historical and contemporary contributions of people of African descent in the Middle East region.

Programme of work

Statements

Opening session

• Deputy High Commissioner’s statement
• Gabriela Ramos’ statement
• H.E. Ali Hussein Al Sammak’s statement
• Epsy Campbell’s statement
• Nawal Ibrahim Alhawsawi

Panel discussion 1 – Recognition

• Ibrahima Guissé’s statement
• Hilary Gbedemah’s statement
• H.E. Mahmoud Afifi’s statement
• Mahdi Al-Tamimi’s statement
• Jamila Ksiksi’s statement

Panel discussion 2 – Justice

• Ali Moussa Iye’s statement
• Inès Mrad Dali’s statement
• Aïcha Bilkhair’s statement
• Beeta Baghoolizadeh’s statement
• Suleiman Quous’s statement

Panel discussion 3 – Development

• Karina Nesesyan’s statement
• Thawra Yousuf Yakob’s statement
• Noman Alhothaifi’s statement
• Bonny Ibhawoh’s statement
• Sushil Raj’s statement
• Max Tunon’s statement

Closing session

• Rapporteur’s summary
• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ closing remarks

Digital recordings of the sessions are available here

Participants

Member States, United Nations specialized agencies and bodies, regional organizations, national human rights institutions, equality bodies and civil society representatives, particularly people of African descent, experts and academics from the region are invited to participate in the regional meeting. Other Member States of the United Nations are invited to attend as observers.

Registration to participate in the regional meeting

Kindly note that ALL participants must register in advance to attend the regional meeting.

Please register through: https://indico.un.org/event/1002605/overview

Zoom link will be shared after registration, close to the meeting date.

Application for financial assistance

OHCHR will provide financial assistance to a selected number of civil society representatives to participate in the meeting, including a pre-paid return flight ticket in economy class and daily subsistence allowance, based on the selection criteria for the meeting. To apply for financial support, civil society applicants are requested to send in a single e-mail to [email protected] the documents below no later than 20 September 2022 (midnight):

• Application form - completed and signed
• Copy of passport
• Copy of banking details (please indicate if you DO NOT have a bank account)

Call for written inputs: The human rights situation of Africans and people of African descent in the Middle

In preparation to the Regional Meeting, all interested stakeholders, including national human rights institutions, equality bodies and civil society representatives, particularly people of African descent from the region, as well as experts and academics are invited to provide information on the human rights situation of Africans and people of African descent living in the Middle East. Such information, and any queries, should be sent electronically to the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at: [email protected] by 15 October 2022.