Past Events
Human rights in practice: Experiences of people of African descent in Germany
Photo by Peter Groth
Organized by the High Council of the African Community in Germany, in cooperation with the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency and Engagement Global (agency for development policy initiatives in Germany).
Date and time: 7 June 2016/ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth; Glinkastrasse 24; 10117 Berlin
For the full Programme please click here
The meeting ended with the presentation of a publication by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth endorsing the International Decade.
Organized by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), with the co-sponsorship of Black Women’s Blueprint and the support of UN Women and the UN Department of Public Information
Date and time: Friday, 29 April 2016/ 11.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
Venue: United Nations Headquarters, New York
Programme
Opening remarks
- Maarit Kohonen Sheriff, Deputy Head, New York Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Shahrashoub Razavi, Chief, Research and Data, UN Women
- Farah Tanis, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Black Women’s Blueprint
Panelists
- Ahmed Reid, Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (Jamaica)
- Nadine Neufville, Deputy Director for Grant Development and Management, Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice (United States)
- Mmatshilo Tumelo Motsei, Poet, writer and gender activist (South Africa)
- Isabelle Boni-Claverie, Author, screenwriter, film director (Ivory Coast / France)
- Janet Mock, Writer and transgender rights activist (United States)
- Tracy Robinson, Former Commissioner, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, Mona (Jamaica)
Discussants
- Alicia Garza, Co-Founder, Black Lives Matter (United States)
Moderator
- Ejim Dike, Executive Director, US Human Rights Network
Watch the video recording of the event: http://webtv.un.org/
Background: The main objective of this event is to raise awareness and exchange views on the causes and manifestations of compounded discrimination faced by women of African descent, including when it comes to gender-based violence, access to healthcare and the overall protection of human rights, and to brainstorm and share good practices on the crucial role that women of African descent can play worldwide in countering discrimination.
During the event, women of African descent will share their experiences in working with their villages, neighbourhoods and countries to promote women’s rights in various aspects of personal, civil, social and political life. They will discuss sustainable models for transformation and reconciliation to bring about accountability and justice for women of African descent, and make recommendations for improving the lives of women of African descent, showcasing good practices, progress and success in working with their communities and countries.
The UN General Assembly will hold a meeting to mark the International Day on 18 March, at 11:00, in the General Assembly Hall.
Keynote speaker: Mr. Ahmed Reid (Jamaica), Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
Open to guests with UN pass.
This event will be webcast live at http://webtv.un.org.
More information on the International Day, please see: http://www.un.org/en/events/racialdiscriminationday/index.shtml
Organized by the Permanent Mission of Brazil and the United States Mission to the United Nations
23 March, 1:15 PM-2:30 PM
ECOSOC Chamber, Conference Building, United Nations Headquarters, New York
To see the full programme and RSVP, click here (PDF)
This event will be webcast live at http://webtv.un.org
Commemorative meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, at UN Headquarters in New York, on 29 March 2016
Theme: "Remember Slavery: Celebrating the Heritage and Culture of the African Diaspora and its Roots"
Webcast live at http://webtv.un.org/.
Hashtag: #RememberSlavery
More information: http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday
A two-day animation conference, marketplace and film festival in Kingston, Jamaica, presented by Jamaica’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, in partnership with the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, showcasing Afrodescendant culture and storytelling through animated media.
More information at: http://kingstoonfest.com
263 Macy, Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 W. 120th St, New York, NY 10025
Screening of three documentary films, followed by a panel discussion:
- South Carolina: Rights to Ancestral Land: a United Nations Television piece on the Gullah Geechee people, descendants of African slaves, and their struggle to hold on to their land and culture;
- Josephine Baker: Black Diva in a White Man's World: a film about one of the most famous and popular performing artists of the twentieth century.
- Sons of Benkos: a documentary about the evolution of Afro-Colombian music over generations and the presence of African culture in Colombia;
More information here: http://nyadiff.org/bhm-2016-adiff-presents-sons-of-benkos-josephine-baker/
The United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent is carrying out a fact-finding visit to the United States from 19 to 29 January 2016, at the invitation of the Government. The Group’s delegation will travel to Washington DC, Baltimore, Jackson (Mississippi), Chicago and New York City.
“We will gather first-hand information about the current human rights situation of African-Americans, and follow up on the recommendations to fight racism we made during our last visit to the country in 2010,” said human rights expert Mireille Fanon Mendes-France, who currently heads the expert panel.
The delegation, which also includes human rights experts Sabelo Gumedze and Ricardo A. Sunga III, will address current concerns, and assess progress made in combatting racial discrimination, Afrophobia, xenophobia, and protecting and promoting the human rights of African-Americans.
During its eleven-day visit, the experts will meet with Government officials at Federal, state and local levels, representatives of civil society organizations, as well as academics, practitioners and individual African-Americans. Following its visit, the Working Group will present a report containing its findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2016.
A press conference to share the delegation’s preliminary findings will be held on Friday, 29 January at 12:00 noon at the UN Information Center in Washington DC. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists. RSVPs are required to access the building.
To RSVPs for the Press Conference (media only!), please contact: Deborah Deyoung (deyoung@un.org / +1 202 331 8670)
Organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information, with the co-sponsorship of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the United States Mission to the United Nations.
When
The exhibit is on display from 11 to 22 January 2016 (the opening was on 12 January 2016).
Where
United Nations Headquarters, New York. First floor corridor between Secretariat and Conference Buildings
Speakers
- Ms. Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information;
- Mr. Ivan Simonovic, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights;
- Ms. Marie-Paule Roudil, Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in New York;
- Ambassador Sarah Mendelson, U.S. Representative on the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations, United States Mission to the United Nations
Organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date and venue: The meeting will be held in Brasilia, from 3 to 4 December 2015
Background and purpose of the meeting: The International Decade for People of African Descent adopted by the General Assembly (2015 – 2024) is an opportunity to analyze and improve the human rights situation and well-being of one of the population groups most affected by racism and discrimination. By combating racial discrimination, the Decade will also strengthen democracy, the rule of law and equality in societies. In 2014, by its resolution 69/16, the General Assembly adopted a Programme of Activities, identifying the objectives and outlining specific actions to be taken within the three themes of the International Decade: recognition, justice and development.
As part of the awareness raising campaign for the International Decade, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will organize five regional meetings. Such meetings will focus on trends, priorities and obstacles at the national and regional levels to effectively implement the Programme of Activities. The meetings will be also an occasion to exchange good practices.
The first meeting will be for the Latin American and Caribbean region. The discussion will be structured under the themes of the Decade: recognition, justice and development. The meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect on ways and means that governments from the region in partnership with equality bodies, national human rights institutions, civil society, development agencies and regional organizations, may pursue to integrate the provisions of the Programmes of Activities in their policies, programmes and strategies tailored for people of African descent.
Participants: The meeting would bring together 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 from the region. Other Member States of the United Nations would be invited to attend as observers. Experts on the topics will be also invited to participate in the meeting.
Documentation and Working languages: The final report of the meeting will be issued as a United Nations document in all official languages.
Travel support for NGOs to attend the Regional Meeting
Topics for the draft agenda; and 20 November deadline for registration
See Documents
Date: Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Time: 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.
Location: ECOSOC Chamber, UN Secretariat Conference Building
Watch the archived webcast here
Programme
The event will be organised in the form of a panel discussion. Following opening remarks and presentations made by the panellists, the floor will be opened for a question and answer session with participants to exchange and express views in a frank and open dialogue.
Welcoming remarks
- Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights
Video messages
- Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Ms. Michaelle Jean, Secretary-General, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
Keynote
- Mr. Harry Belafonte, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
- Ms. Mireille Fanon-Mendes-France, Chairperson, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
- Mr. Mutuma Ruteere, Special Rapporteur on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
Panel Discussion
- International perspective
- Ms. Gay McDougall, Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Latin America and Caribbean perspective
- Ms. Cheryl Sterling, Ph.D., Director, Black Studies Program, The City College of New York
- Ms. Ramona Hernández, Ph.D., Director, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute & Professor of Sociology, The City College of New York
- North American perspective
- Ms. Alicia Garza, Black Lives Matter
- Mr. Steven W. Hawkins, Executive director of Amnesty International USA
- Ms. Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice who was fatally shot by police as a 12-year-old
- Ms. Nicole C. Lee, Mothers against Police Brutality
- European perspective
- Mr. Christian Ahlund, Chair of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
Moderator: Mr. Bruce Knotts, Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association United Nations Office
Organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the co-sponsorship of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the United Nations Department of Public Information, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Black Lives Matter, and Amnesty International USA.Date: Wednesday, 7 October 2015
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: UNESCO Headquarters, Paris
More details: Official Website
Date and time: Wednesday, 16 September 2015 | 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Location: ECOSOC Chamber at United Nations Headquarters, New York
This panel discussed the issue of self-representation as it relates to identity and power. As the experiences of the various panelists will show, visibility through self- representation is an important instrument in promoting the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent and in combating racism and racial discrimination. The panelists will present experiences about how individuals, communities and nations have used self-representation as a tool for social change and as a way of achieving political and cultural representation within societies.
Panelists:
- Celso Athayde, Founder of CUFA, Central Union of Favelas and CUFA Films, Brazil
- Mahen Bonetti, Director of the African Film Festival (AFF), New York
- Macdala Prévot, Filmmaker, Graduate of Ciné Institute, Haiti
- Lenora Fulani, Director, Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids; Co-Founder, All Stars Project, USA
- Raull Santiago, “Papo Reto Media Collective”, Complexo do Alemão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Thomas Allen Harris, CEO, Filmmaker and Transmedia Artist, Founder of Digital Diaspora Family Reunion and Director of "Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People"
- Fab 5 Freddy, Hip hop pioneer, Visual artist, Filmmaker, Chief Creative Consultant of The Africa Center, New York
Moderated by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota
Co-sponsored by UNESCO, the UN Department of Public Information, United States Mission, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and The Africa Center
Watch the archived webcast.
Artists and the Memory of Slavery: Resistance, creative freedom and legacies.
Date: 4 - 11 September 2015
Location: UNESCO Headquarters, Paris
More details: Official Website
Black Philanthropy Month, held every August, was created in 2011 by the Pan-African Women's Philanthropy Network as an annual, global celebration of African-descent giving in recognition of the International Year for People of African Descent declared by the United Nations General Assembly. Since its founding, millions of people and organizations across the globe have celebrated every August as a month of celebration and renewal of giving to and by African-descent communities. In the spirit of the UN Decade for People of African Descent, Black Philanthropy Month encourages the global community to observe this month, and to celebrate the cultural richness and philanthropic spirit of African-descent communities year-round, recognizing the vital role generosity plays in ensuring a healthy, safe and prosperous community in which to live, work and flourish.
Roundtable Discussion: The General History of Africa.
Date: Friday, 10 July 2015
Location: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Time: Conference Room 5, United Nations Headquarters
Unveiling of the Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Download full programme (PDF format).
Date:25 March 2015
Location: United Nations Visitors Plaza
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
A comprehensive look at the status of women and girls of African descent for the next decade relative to the Beijing Declaration in the post-2015 development agenda
Date: 14 March 2015
Location: United Nations Church Center, NYC
A Forum for People of African Descent will start in 2015. We invite you to get involved in making it a successful platform to advance the promotion and protection of human rights.
The United Nations General Assembly decided, in resolution A/RES/69/16, to establish a Forum for People of African Descent to serve as a consultation mechanism during the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). There is an emphasis on inclusive participation of all States Members of the United Nations, United Nations funds and programmes, specialized agencies, civil society organizations of people of African descent and all other relevant stakeholders.
The United Nations Human Rights Council, will decide further on the mandate and modalities of the Forum for People of African Descent.
In anticipation of the Human Rights Council discussion, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as Coordinator for the International Decade for People of African Descent, invites interested stakeholders, individuals, groups and organizations to submit information on their vision for the new Forum for People of African Descent.
In your submission it would be useful to include your views on the following aspects: What should be the aims and objectives of the Forum for People of African Descent, its thematic focus, the format and the agenda, how to ensure wide participation in the Forum and what should be its outcomes?
OHCHR will transmit all submissions received to Member States who will hold consultations on the Forum for People of African Descent during the 28th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Procedure for submissions:
- Submissions should be sent in a written form and must include the contact details for the author(s) of the submission.
- OHCHR will receive submissions until Friday, 6 March 2015, midnight Geneva time.
- Submissions may be sent:
By email to: africandescent@ohchr.org
By post to: International Decade for People of African Descent, Anti-Racial Discrimination Section, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UNOG-OHCHR, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Due to resource and time constraints, OHCHR would be grateful if submissions could be clearly marked Forum for People of African Descent, be concise up to 1-page, in English, French and Spanish only.
The Book of Negroes is a miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Lawrence Hill. The six-part miniseries derives its origins from the historical document Book of Negroes and tells the story of a woman forcefully brought to South Carolina from West Africa at the time of the American Revolution
| 2:50 - 3:05 p.m. | Drums prelude |
|---|---|
| 3:05 p.m. | Musical introduction |
| 3:10 p.m. | Remarks:
Keynote speaker Statements
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| 5:50 p.m. | Musical finale |
| 6:00 p.m. | Closure of Launch
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