UN Chief Urges Justice and Equality for People of African Descent

Protestors take part in a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Paris, France (file, 2021)

On the International Day for People of African Descent, observed annually on 31 August, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for justice, dignity, and equality for people of African descent worldwide.

In his message, Guterres honoured the “extraordinary” contributions of people of African descent in every sphere of human endeavour. He also highlighted the enduring impact of slavery and colonialism, pointing to systemic racism, unequal societies, and the digital divide as legacies of that history.

The Secretary-General praised the Global Digital Compact, adopted in 2024 as part of the Pact for the Future, for its commitments to counter discrimination and hate speech in digital spaces. He warned that “white supremacy and dehumanising narratives” are often amplified online, with racial bias even encoded in algorithms.

“Eighty years after the UN Charter reaffirmed equal rights and dignity for all, and sixty years since the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,” Guterres said, “it is long past time to right historic wrongs.”

This year’s observance marks the start of the second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025–2034), themed “Recognition, Justice, and Development.” Guterres urged the next decade to drive “real change,” including progress towards a UN Declaration on the rights of people of African descent.

The first decade (2015–2024) led over 30 countries to reform laws and policies to address racial discrimination, while new international days and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent were established to celebrate and protect the contributions of the diaspora.