The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is pleased to announce that the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent will take place from 14 – 17 April 2025.

Watch videos

• 14 April 2025 - Opening Session and General Debate
• 15 April 2025 - Morning & Afternoon
• 16 April 2025 - Morning & Afternoon
• 17 April 2025 - Afternoon

Documentation

Concept note (English | Français | Español | Português)

Provisional agenda

Programme of work (draft) 

Modalities of participation (English | Français | Español | Português)

Logistic note

Statements and contributions

The following statements and contributions were received by the Secretariat in relation to the discussions that took place during the fourth session of the Permanent Forum of People of African descent. The views and/or opinions expressed in the contributions listed below are those of the authors and do not reflect in any way the views and/or opinions of OHCHR. OHCHR is not responsible for the content of the submissions. The use and posting of the contributions do not provide any legal and/or other status to the contributing organizations or their association with OHCHR.

High Level Opening Segment

• H.E. Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community 
• H.E. Ms. Anielle Franco, Minister for Racial Equality of Brazil
• His Honourable Mr. Joseph L.F. Hamilton, Minister of Labour of Guyana 
• H.E. Ms. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund
• H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber, President of the Human Rights Council 
• H.E. Ms. Francia Márquez, Vice President of the Republic of Colombia 
• Mr. Earle Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet of Executive Office of the Secretary-General
• Mr. Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR
• H.E. Mr. Philémon Yang, President of the General Assembly

Closing session 

Panellists

• CARICOM Reparations Commission
• Ms. Gaynel Curry, Vice Chairperson of the Permanent Forum
• Ms. Monique Clescla
• H.E. Mr. Ericq Pierre, Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations
• Ms. Verene Sheperd, Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

CSOs

• Ms, Aletha R.Cherry
• Mr. Georges Buya Bobo, Association de la Jeunesse Congolaise pour les Nations Unies (ACYUN)
• Nibigira & Youth Creative Solutions
• Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
• Comité National Haïtien sur les Restitutions et Réparations (CNHRR)
• Ms. Efia Nwangaza, Malcolm X Center for Self Determination
• Mr. Kwame-Osagyefo Kalimara
• Mr. Neskens Jr Dorcelus
• Ms. Rose-Stella Pierre-Louis, Kolectif Ayisyen Afwo Desandan (KAAD)
• Youth against Racism

Introductory Statements by Members of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent

• Ms. Ana Matarrita McCalla
• Mr. Justin Hansford
• Mr. Martin Kimani (Chairperson)
• Mr. Michael McEachrane
• Mr. Pastor Elías Murillo Martínez

Member States

• European Union
• H.E. Ambassador Cherinet Hariffo, Permanent Observer of IGAD to the United Nations
• Germany
• Ireland
• Mexico AI Panel
• Mexico -Policymaking Panel
• Nigeria
• Paraguay
• Peru (General Debate)
• Peru (Policymaking Panel)
• Peru (Women and Girls Panel)
• Russia
• South Africa (Policymaking Panel)
• South Africa (AI Panel)
• Spain

General Debate

CSOs

• Abbas Abbasov Baku Initiative
• Africa Development Interchange Network
• Alphonsine Servais
• Association Alassane
• Cleide Aparecida Vitorino
• Coalition des Noir. e.s Francophones de l’Ontario
• Florent Ali Meril
• Gabriel Dantas - Geledes
• Haben T Abrha
• Instituto Luiz Gama
• International Decade of People of African Descent Association- Guyana
• Mr. Dauda Sesay
• Mr. Antonio Isuperio
• Mr. Brian Coueta
• Mr. Christopher Mondelice
• Mr. Derek Divine Prince
• Mr. Elisha Ali
• Mr. Jorge Ivan Mina Lasso
• Mr. Jose Martin Jean-Pierre
• Mr. Kwame-Osagyefo Kalimara
• Mr. Lucian Viegas
• Mr. Neskens Jr. Dorcelus
• Mr. Reynaldo Anderson
• Mr. Victor Mooney
• Mr. Will Pittz
• Mr. William O. Clay
• Mr. Willie J.R. Fleming
• Ms. Angelique Walker- Smith
• Ms. Audrey Mena
• Ms. Carine Essomba
• Ms. Carre Citoyen
• Ms. Clelia Prestes
• Ms. Liandra Paz
• Ms. Maria Bizenny Martinez
• Ms. Maria do Carmo Rebouças dos Santos
• Ms. Monica White Ndounou
• Ms. Nina Wa Baana Ndombe
• Ms. Portia C. Allen
• Ms. Raquel Quezada
• Ms. Rhode Arindel
• Patric Tacita
• Peter Gatkuoth W. Kuel
• Robin A. Proudie
• Ruackel Easton
• Saladin Allah
• Southern Center for Human Rights
• The Baku Initiative
• The Center for Pan African Studies
• The Ethiopian World Federation
• Tofunmi Okunbor
• Tomiko Shine
• Upliftment Alliance for Black Communities
• Yiimene Calderon
• Youth Against Racism
• Yvens Rumbold

Panel: Reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent

Panellists

• Ms. Angel Naa Afoley
• Ms. Hilary Brown
• Ms. Nkechi Taifa

CSOs

• Africa Femmes Performantes ONU
• Ali Meril
• All for Reparations and Emancipation (AFRE)
• Alpha Yaya Ture
• Charkera Ervin
• Dauda Sesay
• Deise Benedito
• Elisha Ali
• International Decade of People of African Descent Association- Guyana
• Kibwe Copeland
• Milagro Gomez
• Monarchs of the Afrodescendant Nation
• Mr. Anthony Grey
• Mr. Barryl A. Biekman
• Mr. Brian Coueta
• Mr. Daniel C. Stein
• Mr. Daniel Kamande
• Mr. Daniel Muriel
• Mr. Guillermo P. Morales
• Mr. Jose J. Pierre
• Mr. Keith Magee
• Mr. Larry Pickens
• Mr. Moses Balagizi
• Mr. Pablo Vasquez
• Mr. Ronald Claude
• Ms. Anneliese Bruner
• Ms. Bridget Andam
• Ms. Laura Trevelyan
• Ms. Lisa Borden
• Ms. Nana Gyamfi
• Reparatory Justice for Africa and People of African Descent
• Robin A. Proudie
• The Ethiopian World Federation
• Yvens Rumbold

Panel: Human rights of women and girls of African Descent

Panellists

• June Soomer
• Diene Keita
• Ms. Satang Nabaneh

CSOs

• Asia Pacific People of African Descent
• Demar Kemar Hewitt
• Dunia Mekonnen Tegegn
• European Network of Women of African Descent
• Federación Nacional de Parteras Tradicionales Afrodescendientes de Colombia
• Femme au Cœur du Développement Africain
• Gilmara Cunha
• Instituto Juristas Negras
• International Decade of People of African Descent Association- Guyana
• Lidyane Souza Querino
• Mamie Boendo
• Mercy Ogutu
• Ms. Alessandra Devulsky
• Ms. Aletha R. Cherry
• Ms. Annie Matundu-Mbambi
• Ms. Carine Essomba
• Ms. Kameisha Smith
• Ms. Luciana Viegas
• Ms. Nana Gyamfi
• Ms. Nandipha DuBois
• Ms. Nina Ndombe
• Ms. Selifa Boukary McGreevy
• Yvens Rumbold

Panel: Policymaking and systemic racism: a human rights-based approach

Panellists

• Thenjiwe McHarris
• Mr. Michael McEachrane
• Ms. Tanya K. Hernandez

CSOs

• Alpha Yaya Ture
• Amaria Clark
• Ana Lucia Mosquera Rosado
• Asia Pacific Network for People of African Descent
• Association de la Jeunesse Congolaise pour les Nations Unies (ACYUN)
• Ayanna Alleyne
• Cameron F. Clarke
• Celeste White
• Chavannay Bennett
• Danielle Dean
• Elisha Ali
• Friends World Committee for Consultation
• George D. Williams
• Glennie King
• Hashim Gibrill
• Jeanette Charles-Marquez
• Lerato Chondoma
• Ms. Alessandra Devulsky
• Ms. Aletha R. Cherry
• Nana Gyamfi
• Red Malunga
• Ronald Claude
• Shabakie Fernandes
• Stella dos Santos
• Vinicius Lorran
• William Ackah

Panel: Artificial intelligence and digital justice for people of African descent

Panellists

• Bina D’Costa
• Ashwini K.P
• Mutale Nkonde

CSOs

• Caroline Benitez
• Christian Lambang Fonye
• Coalición anti racismo
• Conectas Direitos Humanos
• Deise Benedito
• Elias Ramos
• Elisha Ali
• Georges Radjou
• Hunter Adams
• International Decade of People of African Descent Association- Guyana
• Jaha Cummings
• Joseph wa Ngoie Ngoie
• Marie-Pierre Nyatanyi
• Nana Gyamfi
• Rosalia Vincente
• Ruackel Easton
• Table ronde du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs

Adoption of preliminary conclusions and recommendations:

Panellists:

• H.E. Bob Rae
• H.E. Pierre Ericq Pierre
• Gaynel Curry
• Verene Albertha Shepherd
• Monique Clesca

CSOs

• Mercy Ogutu
• Tamara Thermitus
• The International Civil Society Working Group Youth Sub-Committee

Guidelines for organizers of 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 side events (English | Français | Español | Português)

Registration to participate in the Permanent Forum

All stakeholders advancing the rights of people of African descent are welcome to participate in the sessions of the Permanent Forum. 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 interested participants are required to register by 11:59PM (Central European Time) on Friday 4 April 2025, through this link: https://indico.un.org/event/1015090/

Please be informed that the 4th session will be also broadcasted via UN Web TV to follow the discussions in real-time with interpretation. We encourage you to register through indico only if you plan to attend in person.

Please be advised that space for this event is limited. If your registration for the event is approved, you will receive an automated email stating that your registration “has been approved”. In the absence of this confirmation, you will not be able to enter the UN premises. 

Please inform the Secretariat ([email protected]) if your registration has been approved but you are unable to attend the event.

Call for inputs

Deadline extended.
OHCHR invites Member States, civil society actors, non-governmental organizations, academics, experts on issues related to people of African descent, and all other relevant stakeholders to submit inputs on new topics to be considered for discussion during the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

Written inputs should be sent in Word format to [email protected] by Tuesday 17 September 2024, 11:59 pm Geneva time. Please see the call for inputs. (English | Français | Español | Portuguese).

Application for financial support

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) invites civil society representatives to apply for financial support to participate in the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

Applicants will be selected on the basis of their work representing people of African descent or advocating to protect and promote the human rights of people of African descent. The selection committee will consider the potential of applicants to contribute to specific discussions on the agenda of the Permanent Forum. Due regard will also be made to considerations of geographic and gender diversity.

To apply for financial support, civil society representatives are requested to send the application form (English | Français | Español), completed and signed, together with all supporting documents, in a single e-mail to [email protected] by Wednesday 9^th October 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Geneva.