Fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

Alvin Ailey Dance Theater – Dance Workshop at the Fourth Session  
of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and the 10^th Anniversary of the Permanent Memorial to the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 1:15 p.m., United Nations Visitors Plaza
Introduction
The United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery (TST) welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the legendary Alvin Ailey Dance Theater as an innovative, immersive component of its programming for the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, to be held from 14-17 April 2025 at UNHQ New York.

This year, 2025, marks the 10^th anniversary of the United Nations Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (the Ark of Return) and the TST Programme envisions organizing this event on the Visitors Plaza at the Ark of Return to highlight its anniversary.

The Dance Workshop will take place in front of the Ark of Return. It will also be held against the backdrop of a dynamic sculpture exhibition featuring five large-scale “talking drums,” designed by artists across the African diaspora, which were curated by the non-profit arts organization Stories of Us, Inc. It will be held one day before a “drum dialogue” featuring professional drumming groups, also from across the diaspora community.

Alvin Ailey’s intergenerational West African dance workshop, which is also accompanied by live drumming, will introduce participants to the rhythms and movement of West Africa, learning the meaning behind the dance gestures and the significance of the dance within West African culture. It is an ideal complement to the many other activities planned on the Visitors Plaza throughout the week.

The Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery was established in 2006 with the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 61/19 to mobilize remembrance of the victims of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, and to educate about the causes and consequences of the history to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice.

The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent was established as a consultative mechanism for people of African descent with the adoption of GA resolution 75/314 on 2 August 2021. This mechanism also serves as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of Arican descent, and an advisory body to the Human Rights Council, in line with the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent.
 
 
Objectives

• To increase awareness of the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, 14-17 April
• To highlight the 2025 theme of the Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade (“Acknowledge the Past. Repair the present. Build a future of dignity and justice.”)
• To celebrate the culture of People of African Descent.
• To engage the general public and civil society in the celebration of this culture.
• To inspire people to create a movement of shared humanity while empowering them to fight for the rights of and justice for the global African diaspora.
• To highlight the 10^th anniversary of the Ark of Return

 
Format and Focus
All events will take place in person on the Visitors Plaza (14 – 17 April 2025).
The Permanent Forum is expected to bring together members of the international community and civil society.

Draft Scenario for Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre West African Dance Workshop (16 April – rain date is 16 April)):

1:15 p.m.          Opening remarks by DGC (TBC) (3 minutes)
1:18 p.m.          Welcome remarks by UNFPA (DAWN MINOTT) (4 minutes)
1:22 p.m.          Remarks and instructions by an Alvin Ailey representative (5 minutes)
1:27 p.m.          Dance performance or dance workshop (45 – 60 minutes)
2:30 p.m.          Event closes