Fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent: Full Schedule

Welcome to the draft programme of work for the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

This page provides detailed information about the main sessions and side events, including times, locations, and speakers

For any questions or further information, please feel free to contact the Permanent Forum Secretariat at pfpad@un.org

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10:00am EDT

Item 5: Thematic Discussion (continued): Policy-making and systemic racism: a human rights-based approach

Wednesday April 16, 2025 10:00am - 1:00pm EDT

Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters

Panel #3: Policymaking and systemic racism: a human rights-based approach

The panel will take place on Wednesday 16 April from 10:00 to 13:00.

From a human rights perspective, developing social systems and structures that allow for the full enjoyment of all human rights, equality and non-discrimination ought to be the primary purpose of policymaking. This purpose is today as urgent and daunting as ever. Rather than increased equality within and among countries—as Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development calls on the international community to do—currently we are witnessing growing inequalities. Moreover, rather than increasing their efforts to realize basic principles of human rights and justice of the inherent and equal moral worth of the human person without distinction, such principles are increasingly being denounced and ignored by policymakers across the world. A future policymaking firmly based on promoting human dignity, rights, equality and nondiscrimination will need to recognize, monitor and address the collective human rights disparities faced by people of African descent within and among countries. This includes, for example, the recognition and addressing of inequalities in the enjoyment of human rights and the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, and their roots in colonialism, neocolonialism, enslavement, genocide, apartheid, racial and ethnic nationalism.

This panel will reflect on human rights-based approaches to eradicating systemic racism within and among countries. Including, the development of creative new ways of holding States, the United Nations and policymaking accountable to the purpose of promoting human dignity, equality, non-discrimination and environmental sustainability, while recognizing and addressing systemic and structural inequalities. It will be an opportunity to reflect on the recognition of collective human rights as critical to addressing systemic racism, and to discuss good practices and new measures for the inclusion of racial justice and people of African descent in policymaking.

Moderators

Justin Hansford

Member of the Permanent Forum

Justin Hansford (U.S.A.) is a professor of Law and executive director and founder of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center. He has a B.A. from Howard University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a founder of the Georgetown Journal of Law and Modern... Read More →

Speakers

Michael McEachrane

Member of the Permanent Forum

Thenjiwe McHarris

Co-founder, Blackbird

Thenjiwe McHarris is a strategist, internationalist, and Black feminist who has devoted her political life to building transformative movements rooted in justice. She is the co-founder and former Co-Director of Blackbird, a rapid-response organization that fortifies Black-led movements... Read More →

Tanya Katerí Hernández

Archibald R. Murray Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law

Tanya Katerí Hernández Tanya Katerí Hernández is the Archibald R. Murray Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law, where she teaches Anti-Discrimination Law, Comparative Employment Discrimination, Critical Race Theory, Writing/Righting Race in the Public Sphere... Read More →

Nota conceitual PFPAD 4ª sessão pdf

Nota conceptual PFPAD 4ta sessión pdf

Concept note PFPAD 4th session pdf

Note conceptuelle PFPAD 4e session pdf

Wednesday April 16, 2025 10:00am - 1:00pm EDT
Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, United States

Main session

3:00pm EDT

Item 5: Thematic Discussion (continued): Artificial intelligence and digital justice for people of African descent

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters

Panel #4: Artificial intelligence and digital justice for people of African descent

The panel will take place on Wednesday 16 April from 15:00 to 18:00.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping critical aspects of modern life, including surveillance, employment, education, law enforcement, healthcare, data collection and analysis. Despite its potential to promote human dignity, AI often inherits biases from the data it processes, leading to discriminatory outcomes. For people of African descent, this presents a significant challenge, as they are frequently underrepresented or misrepresented in the datasets that inform AI systems. This results in the perpetuation of stereotypes and the deepening of racial disparities. Black women have long highlighted the dangers of digital misogynoir, an intersectional form of bias that combines racism and sexism, targeting Black women specifically. This underscores the need for a more inclusive and representative approach to AI development.

AI also offers the potential for positive change, particularly in the collection and analysis of disaggregated data, which could be instrumental in monitoring and addressing racial disparities. However, ensuring this data is used ethically and effectively requires the establishment of robust ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks to ensure that data is used responsibly and equitably. Existing legal frameworks, such as the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s General Recommendation 36, emphasizes the importance of preventing racial discrimination in AI applications and highlight the need for transparency, accountability, and human rights due diligence to mitigate the adverse impacts of algorithmic bias.

This panel will explore the dual role of AI as both a tool for advancing digital justice and a technology that can perpetuate and even deepen racial inequalities. It will examine the challenges, opportunities, and necessary actions to ensure AI contributes to a more equitable future for people of African descent.

Moderators

Pastor Murillo

Member of the Permanent Forum

Speakers

Ashwini K.P.

Special UN Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism

Ms. Ashwini K.P.Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racismMs. Ashwini K.P. is the sixth Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. She was appointed by the Human Rights Council in October 2022 and took up... Read More →

Bina D’Costa

Chairperson, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

Bina D’Costa (Bangladesh), ChairpersonMs. D’Costa is a Professor, Department of International Relations at the Coral Bell School, the Australian National University (ANU) and an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow. She has published six books and many essays, including... Read More →

Mutale Nkonde

CEO, AI for the People

Mutale Nkonde Mutale Nkonde is a researcher, policy advisor, media commentator and CEO of AI for the People. A non profit that advocates for responsible approaches to AI development. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Digital Humanities at the University of Cambridge, where her research... Read More →

Note conceptuelle PFPAD 4e session pdf

Concept note PFPAD 4th session pdf

Nota conceptual PFPAD 4ta sessión pdf

Nota conceitual PFPAD 4ª sessão pdf

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, United States

Main session

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