Fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

Title of the side event
Reparatory Justice for Afrodescendants (descendants of enslaved Africans) 

Date, time and time zone of side event
Saturday April 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

Sponsoring organization(s) or entity/ies
All for Reparations and Emancipation (AFRE); Afrodescendant Nation (ADN)

Language(s) in which the side event will be held
English

Description of the side event
This event explores the lasting impact of slavery on identity and the need for its restoration among the descendants of enslaved Africans. Enslavers stripped Africans of their names, languages, and cultural ties to enforce control and suppress resistance. This erasure disrupted unity, self-worth, heritage, and generational connections.
Reclaiming our global identity as Afrodescendants is essential for rebuilding a shared sense of belonging, pride, and purpose. By embracing this identity, we can foster unity and work toward self-determination. Join us in this critical conversation on reclaiming identity and collective action towards reparatory justice.

Location of the side event (or website for registration, for events held online).
Zoom Webinar registration link below

For online events, kindly ensure to send the connection link to facilitate participants’ access.
 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_L5XcNG0hTAmCw9QOvVXE0g

Name and email address of the lead organizer (and permission to publish the lead organizer’s contact details)
Ishmael Abdul-Salaam, Lead Organizer
CEO, All for Reparations and Emancipation (AFRE)
Email: ishmael.abdulsalaam@gmail.com

Weblink for any further information
https://www.allforreparations.com/

Item 1: Opening of the session
Item 2: Appointment of Chair, Vice-Chair and Rapporteur of the Permanent Forum
Item 3: Adoption of the agenda and programme of work

THE APPROPRIATE USE OF "SLAVERY" AND "THE SLAVE TRADE" THROUGHOUT THE UNITED NATIONS ANTI-RACISM MECHANISMS REGARDING REPARATIONS
DATE: Monday, April 14th, 2025.                                                      TIME: 1:00pm to - 3:00 pm EST
LOCATION: Suite #120 - 866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
REGISTRATION: https://forms.gle/953G7ST7GJhP7oEm6

EVENT DESCRIPTION
The consistent use of ‘slavery’ and the ‘slave trade’ as the legal and conceptually appropriate terms for the harms that reparations address is paramount. Over two decades ago, the United Nations (UN) Durban Declaration and Program of Action recognized slavery and the slave trade, particularly the transatlantic slave trade, as crimes against humanity. It also acknowledged that Africans and people of African descent were victims of these acts and continue to suffer from their consequences.

Reparations for slavery and the slave trade are a central focus of the Second International Decade for Peoples of African Descent (2025 - 2034). The UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent has prioritised reparations, while regional entities, such as the Programme of Action for CARICOM’s Ten Point Plan, provide a structured reparations framework. The African Union’s proposed theme for 2025, “Justice for Africans and people of African Descent through Reparations,” further underscores commitment to this issue.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the cornerstone of the international legal framework to prevent and combat racial discrimination. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is preparing a General Recommendation on Reparations for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, reinforcing ICERD’s role in ensuring full and effective implementation of reparatory justice.

In parallel, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the UN submitted a proposal to include the slave trade as a provision in the Draft articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity. Additionally, Sierra Leone proposed to amend the Rome Statute, of the International Criminal Court, to include the slave trade as a crime against humanity, as well as slavery and the slave trade as war crimes.

While actors within the UN Anti-racism Mechanisms and regional bodies share a commitment to reparations, differences persist in the terminology they use. This side event seeks to clarify why consistent terminology will be important in all advocacy efforts.

From April 14 – 17, 2025, the fourth session of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent (PFPAD) will take place at the UN Headquarters in New York. As part of the session, a side event on April 14 will feature a panel of experts discussing the appropriate terminology for referring to slavery and the slave trade in the context of reparations advocacy. This side event is intended for PFPAD participants, CERD members and their constituencies, as well as representatives from UN Member States, regional entities, civil society, academia, practitioners and other experts engaged in the issue of reparations.

PROPOSED PROGRAM

OPENING REMARKS
• George Shadrack Kamanda, First Secretary, Legal Affairs, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations (tbc)

MODERATION AND CLOSING
• S. Priya Morley, Director, Racial Justice Initiative, Bernstein Institute for Human Rights, NYU Law

SPEAKERS
• Gay McDougall, Vice-Chair, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
• Patricia Viseur Sellers, former Special Advisor for Slavery Crimes to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and Visiting Fellow, Kellogg College, University of Oxford

DISCUSSANTS
• June Soomer, Chairperson, Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
• Verene A. Shepherd, Vice-Chair, CARICOM Reparations Commission and CERD, Director of the Institute for Reparations Research, The University of the West Indies
• Barbara G. Reynolds, Member, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

Q&A

Drum Dialogue
for 
Equality and Inclusion
 
Date: April 14th, 2025
Location: South Visitors Plaza, UN Secretariat, New York
 
 
Background
The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) is tasked with promoting a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies. In this context, in partnership with OHCHR the Department of Global Communication and the Africa Center, UNFPA will host a Drum Dialogue at the fourth session of the PFPAD.

The fourth session of the permanent forum on people of African descent provides a confluence of opportunities to deepen the discourse and renew hope for realizing the rights of People of African Descent. The Drum Dialogue will highlight the first year of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent under the theme “Recognition, Justice and Development” and the renewed commitment from member states and stakeholders at all levels to continue to strengthen their efforts to end inequalities and discrimination. The Second International Decade is also an opportunity to take concrete actions to confront the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, and secure the full human rights and freedoms of people of African descent worldwide. This event will also, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, “Ark of Return.” 

Across Africa, drums were used to accompany story telling playing a vital role in Africa's oral tradition and culture. Drums connect Africa and its diaspora. Enslaved peoples used them to communicate and to express their culture, they were an essential part of their survival and resilience. Its music transcends borders and language, acting as a unifying symbol, bringing people together, fostering unity, shared identity and strengthening community bonds.
 
The Concept
The Drum Dialogue is envisioned as a 1.5 hour event. It will include performances of traditional drummers and dancers from Africa and the African diaspora. A short 10-minute fireside chat, featuring history experts discussing the importance and history of the African drums, and short statements from relevant United Nations, Member States, civil society and other relevant figures. The event will celebrate Africa's and the diaspora's rich diversity.
 
 
Objectives
The proposed event is part of efforts aimed at promoting Africa and African diaspora culture and recognizing the contributions of Africans and people of African Descent in the spirit of Recognition, Justice, and Development. Specific objectives include:
Celebrating African and Afro-descendant culture and heritage
Promoting the rich diversity of Afro-descendants’ cultural heritage and contributions to global development;
Educating the public on the rich history of Africans and the African diaspora
Support the participation of young people of African descent in meaningful cultural activities, increasing their knowledge and participation in relevant multicultural/multilateral spaces.
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, “Ark of Return,”
Recognizing the beginning of the first year of the Second Decade for People of African Descent

Date, Duration and Venue
The drum dialogue will be held in the Visitors Plaza at UN Secretariat, New York in front of the Ark of Return on April 14th, 2025. The event will last 1.5 hours with drummers performing. The agenda will also include brief remarks from relevant UN entities and other stakeholders and a short fireside chat session.

Organizing & Partner Agencies 
UNFPA will host the event in partnership with the Department of Global Communication and OHCHR and in collaboration with the Africa Center.

Panel #1: Reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent

The panel will take place on Tuesday 15 April from 10:00 to 13:00.

Reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent is a critical and urgent global priority, addressing the enduring legacies of colonialism, enslavement, apartheid, and genocide. For centuries, Africa and its diaspora have suffered the consequences of these injustices, manifested today in systemic and structural racism within and among countries. These historical injustices continue to undermine the development of African nations and hinder the full enjoyment of human rights for people of African descent.

The demand for reparations stems from the recognition that the lasting and structural harms of enslavement and colonialism were not only a violation of human rights but also a moral and an economic debt that continues to impact generations. The legacy of systemic racism, economic exploitation, and unequal access to human rights and opportunities still plagues both Africa and its diaspora. In this context, reparations are seen not merely as a financial call, but as a means of redress that can address systemic and structural inequalities, restore dignity, and promote long-term development.

Collaborative efforts between African governments, regional organizations like the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), are crucial in advancing reparatory justice. The CARICOM’s 10-Point Action Plan and the AU’s commitment to addressing the legacy of enslavement and colonialism, including its proposal to designate “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations” as the theme for 2025, have laid the groundwork for reparations for people of African descent, and provide frameworks for pursuing reparations for enslavement, colonialism, and their enduring legacies.

This panel will highlight the roles and contributions of these key actors in shaping and promoting reparations. It will delve into opportunities for international cooperation, and the mobilization of resources, while also addressing challenges such as political resistance and limited funding.

Panel #2: Human rights of women and girls of African descent

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

The unequal human rights situation of women and girls are the result of historical patriarchal political, legal, socioeconomic, and cultural structures and practices that ignore their specific experiences. These structures and practices remain across cultures, in both private a public sector, limiting women and girls access to opportunities, leadership, decision-making and power positions and resulting in gender inequalities, sex based discrimination and violence. For women of African descent, the situation is exacerbated by the existence of racism, racial discrimination and related structures and practices inherited from colonialism and enslavement, The compounded effects of racism and sexism result in multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against women of African descent (misogynoir 1 ) and impedes the full enjoyment of their human rights. This further renders them distinct from men of African descent and from other women who hold similar positions of leadership and power.

Today, the human rights of women of African descent are further impacted by the lack of economic opportunities and autonomy, encompassing credit, land ownership and inheritance, among other issues. In some regions, many women and girls of African descent lack access to quality education, face discrimination in education and in the labour market and are concentrated in undervalued, low-wage and care economy jobs. Systemic racism in health remains a concern for women of African descent as they continue to be at higher risk of death from pregnancy-related causes, face poor health due to chronic diseases and are disproportionately affected by violence at all levels of society, including sexual violence. For women of African descent in political and power spaces, violence, intimidation, harassment, bullying and abuse are real and evident, including in the media. The effect of such intersectional racial violence threatens to eliminate the gains (in education, employment and leadership) made by women of African descent, exclude them from and limit their influence in decision-making and power positions. Political violence against women of African descent reinforces sexual and racial discrimination and hierarchies in politics and further entrenches patriarchy with one privileged group disproportionately influencing politics, economics and culture.

Notwithstanding the broad range of challenges faced by women of African descent in various segments of society, this panel will focus on intersectional racial political violence and its impact on the human rights of Afro-descendant women keeping in mind the global agendas for justice, including reparatory, socio-economic, and digital justice.

1.A term coined by Dr. Moya Bailey to acknowledge the ways Black women are uniquely discriminated against because of their gender and race.

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.

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.

Please note that this is an internal meeting among the Members of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. 

Closing event: Haiti’s Independence Debt: 200 years later

The closing event will take place on Thursday 17 April from 15:00 to 16:30, before the reading of the conclusions and recommendations of the session.

The year 2025 marks the bicentennial of a pivotal moment in global history: France's imposition of an “independence debt” on Haiti, the world's first black republic. Haiti has a unique role in human history of anti-colonialism, anti-racism, the abolition of enslavement and the Pan-African and other movements for the human dignity, rights and self-determination of Africans and people of African descent across the world. Haiti’s rich cultural legacy—strongly rooted in African traditions—has long served as both a symbol of resilience and a framework for collective identity. But today, Haiti is in the midst of an unabated security, political, humanitarian and human rights crises where armed men and women perpetuate violence and human rights violations with impunity, resulting in fear, insecurity, instability, and a record 1.04 million internally displaced in January 2025.

The current crisis in Haiti is not a historically and geographically isolated event. Haiti’s history is deeply intertwined with the profound impact and legacy of French colonization and the institution of enslavement in the Caribbean. In 1791, the enslaved people of Haiti rose up in rebellion against French colonial rule and established the independent Republic of Haiti in 1804. For this courageous, unprecedented act, the country was severely punished. In 1825 (two hundred years ago this year) Haiti was forced into an agreement to pay 150 million gold francs to France to compensate French planters for “lost property” (land and enslaved people), an amount that was well in excess of the planters’ actual financial losses. By 1898, fully half of Haiti’s government budget went to paying France and the French banks. By 1914, that proportion climbed to 80 percent. The newly independent Haiti became financially dependent on foreign loans for its payments to France and for its very survival, resulting in mounting debt and insufficient investment in development institutions and processes for well over 100 years. The crushing debt load from interest payments created a devastating cycle of debt and entrenched poverty, alongside economic and political isolation lead primarily by proenslavement supporters, trade embargoes and nonrecognition, impeding its progress and stability. The invasion and occupation of Haiti by the USA between 1915 and 1934 placed a further burden on the country, leading to increased political unrest and had a profound impact on Haiti’s development. The treaty signed between Haiti and the United States in 1915 regarding the finances, economic development, and tranquillity of Haiti, served as a mechanism through which foreign powers continued to exert control over Haiti’s economic destiny, impeding the nation’s path to economic self-determination and sufficiency.

This event will be the opportunity to discuss the roots of Haiti’s current crisis, raise awareness on Haiti’s deep historical connections to the struggles of people of African descent, present the various Haiti advocacy efforts and coordinate their inclusion in the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.