By: Alyssa Wilson

The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution creating a group to give expert advice on addressing the challenges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance.  

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The Permanent Forum of People of African Descent will serve as “a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent” and their inclusion fully in societies where they live.  

Adopted by a consensus by the 193-person body, the forum comes at a time known as the International Decade for People of African Descent. It was established by the General Assembly in 2015 and ends on December 31, 2024, the Associated Press reported. It said instances and various forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance are still widespread and should be condemned. 

The inception of the new body also comes before the 20th anniversary of the September 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism in South Africa. The controversial conference included clashes over the Middle East and the legacy of slavery. During the meeting, the United States and Israel walked out over a draft resolution that singled out Israel for its criticism and likened Zionism to racism.  

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“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies,” the assembly said. “Any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.”  

The Permanent Forum of People of African Descent will consist of 10 members, with five being elected by the General Assembly from all regions and the remaining being appointed by the Human Rights Council. They will be responsible for providing recommendations on addressing racism to the Human Rights Council and the committees and agencies. 

The first session will be held in 2022 and the group will deliver annual reports to the United Nations’ general body.  

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.