The legacy of slavery persists through inequality and oppressive prison systems

Racism is a global problem and all countries must take a stand against it, the president of the general Assemblyin his speech during the last meeting of the Forum Permanent on Afro-descendantsa UN platform to improve the safety and quality of life of these people around the world.

“Racism and xenophobia continue to blight our communities, like scars tearing at the social fabric. Hate and the violence it engenders persistdemanding our collective efforts to eradicate racial violence in all its forms,” ​​said Csaba Kőrösi at the second session of the Forum, which opened on Tuesday in New York.

transform injustice

Kőrösi assured that to overcome this it is necessary recognize our shared humanityas the “unsung legacies” of slavery and segregation persist today through oppressive and racially violent prison systems, inequalities in access to health care, and exclusion from the workforce.

“We must put an end to these inhuman and shameful legacies, and we must do it now,” he said in his speech in the General Assembly Hall. “I firmly believe that reflecting on these painful legacies, we can truly transform the injustices of the past into the freedoms of the future“, he added.

act urgently

The Permanent Forum was created in 2021 by the General Assembly, after years of deliberations, and in line with the International Decade for People of African Descent, which will last until 2024.

The body will help promote a UN declaration on the promotion and full respect for the rights of people of African descent, the theme of the current session.

His creation crystallizes the international commitment to accelerate the path towards full equality and justice for people of African descent around the world, declared for his part the General secretary of the UN, in a video message addressed to the attendees.

António Guterres urged to recognize and repair the mistakes made during centuries of slavery and colonialism.

“We must act with greater urgency to rid our societies of the scourge of racism and guarantee the full political, economic and social inclusion of people of African descent as equal citizens, without discrimination,” he said.

A problem everywhere

The fact that racism knows no borders was highlighted by the president of Brazil, who highlighted the constant abuses of the Brazilian footballer Vinícius Júnior, who plays for the Spanish team Real Madrid.

“The lesson we can take from these inexcusable episodes is that Vinicius Jr, a 22-year-old, is capable of taking on hostile crowds, there is no doubt that we can and must do more to disrupt this dehumanizing circuit of violence,” Luiz said. Inácio Lula da Silva in another video message.

For her part, the Brazilian Minister for Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, took the podium to reinforce President Lula’s call to renew the International Decade for People of African Descent, focusing on memory, reparations and justice.

“Peace, democracy, international security, the fight against inequalities and the guarantee of human rights will only coexist when centuries of systemic racism are repaired, characterized by dehumanization, subjugation, trauma, the erasure of our culture and psychological violence”, he stated, drawing applause from the room.

Tribute to activists

More than a thousand people participate in the Forum, which concludes on Friday. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, paid tribute to the large number of activists and representatives of civil society who are in his ranks.

“Many of you have been vital to the ongoing efforts of global movements against racism, including the 2020 protests that, among other things, helped expedite the establishment of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent,” he said in a video message.

Türk pointed out that, for too long, racial discrimination has been treated as a social issue, rather than as a a serious violation of human rights.

“It is urgent that we hold individuals accountable for acts of racism and racial discrimination, and also that we consider more deeply the role of structures and systems of discrimination and oppression that reproduce and feed racial hierarchies,” he said.