Fifth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

Date and time: 15 April 2026, 9:00-10:00 am

Location: Room III, building A, Palais des Nations

Sponsoring organizations: World Against Racism Network, International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN), Commission africaine des promoteurs de la santé et des droits de l'homme, International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Europe Pan-African Forum for People of African Descent, Kingdom of Kush, AUADS 6th Region High Council, Global African Sheroes Union, Drammeh International-Lawyers.Org, Global Action on Aging, African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, Global African Congress, European Network for People of African Descent, Geneva International Center for Justice. Centre d'Etudes Juridiques Africaines, International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic & Other Minorities,

Language: English

Description of the side event.
Its time for a drastic peoples mobilisation to ensure that the implementation of DDPA is secured and made a global priority. Telling the facts from past  struggles against racism, slavery and colonialism that finally lead to the decision to hold the Durban World Conferece and ensuring full implementation. The DDPA is probably the least known of outcomes from UN world conferences. It has been unjustly campaigned against and its anniversaries been boycotted. The 25th Anniversary open up an opportunity to fight back for truth and justice and reparations for past crimes.

Name and email address of the lead organizer: ISMUN, [email protected]

Side Event

Life, Equity, and Access: Advancing Kidney Care for People of African Descent

Date and Time: 
Wednesday 15 April
9:00 – 10:00 am

Duration: 60 minutes

Location: Room XI, building A, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

Registration: Interested participants can register in the following link: https://luma.com/BairdFoundationUN

Sponsoring Organization(s)
Doris Baird Dialysis Clinic
In collaboration with global partners advancing health equity and medical access for communities of African descent.

Language of Event      
English            

Description of the Side Event
Kidney disease disproportionately affects people of African descent globally, yet access to dialysis treatment remains limited in many regions. This side event will examine how awareness, health infrastructure, and international partnerships can expand life-saving dialysis access. Anchored in the objectives of the International Decade for People of African Descent and aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), the discussion will highlight the work of the Doris Baird Dialysis Clinic as a model for community-driven health solutions. Participants will explore pathways to strengthen healthcare capacity, increase awareness of kidney disease disparities, and improve survival outcomes in underserved communities.

Background and Context
Kidney disease is a growing global health challenge and one of the most severe non-communicable diseases when treatment is not accessible. For patients experiencing kidney failure, dialysis is often the only life-sustaining option.

Yet access to dialysis remains deeply unequal. In many regions, treatment is limited, unaffordable, or entirely unavailable. These disparities disproportionately affect communities of African descent, where gaps in healthcare infrastructure, specialist care, and early diagnosis persist.

The Doris Baird Dialysis Clinic was established to respond to this urgent need by expanding access to dialysis treatment and strengthening healthcare capacity in underserved communities.

This side event places kidney care within the broader global discussion on health equity, emphasizing the need for awareness, investment, and coordinated international action.

Alignment with the United Nations Mandate
International Decade for People of African Descent
The International Decade for People of African Descent is grounded in three pillars: Recognition, Justice, and Development.

This side event advances these priorities by:
• Increasing global awareness of health disparities affecting people of African descent
• Addressing inequities in access to life-saving healthcare
• Supporting development through strengthened health systems and medical infrastructure
• Health equity is fundamental to advancing human rights, dignity, and long-term well-being for communities of African descent.

United Nations Sustainable Development GoalsSDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being
This event contributes directly to SDG 3 by focusing on:
• Expanding access to essential healthcare services
• Reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases
• Strengthening healthcare systems in underserved regions
• Improving access to dialysis is a critical component of achieving equitable health outcomes globally.

The Role of Awareness
Awareness is essential to addressing disparities in kidney disease.
In many affected communities:
• Diagnosis occurs at advanced stages
• Access to treatment is limited or unavailable
• The scale of the issue remains under-recognized

Without increased awareness, the urgency of the crisis is not fully understood, and necessary investments and policy responses remain insufficient.

This side event seeks to elevate awareness as a catalyst for action, enabling stronger engagement from governments, health institutions, and international partners.

Discussion
Themes
Health Inequities and Kidney Disease
Examining the disproportionate impact of kidney disease on people of African descent.

Awareness and Early Detection
Understanding the role of awareness in improving diagnosis, treatment access, and outcomes.

Expanding Dialysis Infrastructure
Exploring scalable approaches to increasing dialysis capacity in underserved regions.

Partnerships for Health Equity
Identifying opportunities for collaboration among governments, healthcare providers, and global partners.


Event Format
Moderated panel discussion with audience engagement.

Structure:

1. Opening remarks – 5 minutes

1. Panel discussion – 30 minutes

1. Audience dialogue – 20 minutes

1. Closing reflections – 5 minutes

Expected Outcomes
• Increased global awareness of kidney disease disparities
• Strengthened recognition of dialysis access as a health equity priority
• Engagement of partners to support expansion of dialysis services
• Practical recommendations to improve healthcare access and infrastructure

A summary of conclusions and recommendations will be submitted following the event.

Conclusion
Access to life-saving healthcare remains one of the defining equity challenges of our time.
For individuals living with kidney failure, dialysis is not optional. It is survival.
By advancing awareness, strengthening partnerships, and supporting scalable healthcare solutions, this side event contributes to global efforts to ensure equitable access to care and improved health outcomes for communities of African descent.

Lead Organizer
Doris Baird Dialysis Clinic

Website:dorisbairdfoundation.org

Contact: Dr. Wycliffe Baird, [email protected]

Panel #1: 25 years after the Durban Declaration and Programme and Action: Strengthening global solidarity with people of African descent

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

The DDPA remains the most comprehensive global framework for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.

Since its adoption, States have reaffirmed their commitment to the DDPA through political declarations adopted at its tenth and twentieth anniversaries. The importance of practical and targeted measures, including data collection, national action plans, education, and access to justice, along with the acknowledgement that evolving global challenges increasingly shape the lived experiences of people of African descent has been emphasized. At the same time, twenty-five years after its adoption, gaps in implementation persist, particularly in addressing systemic and structural racism, pointing to the need for renewed, sustained, and coordinated action.

Against this backdrop, this panel will take stock of progress and challenges in the implementation of the DDPA at the national, regional, and international levels, with a focus on its relevance for people of African descent in the framework of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent. The discussion will explore how the DDPA can be taken forward as a practical and relevant framework by strengthening implementation, follow-up, and accountability, while also contributing to mobilizing global public support for its full and effective implementation and strengthening global solidarity with people of African descent. The panel will further consider linkages with ongoing processes, including the elaboration of a draft UN declaration on the respect, protection, and fulfilment of the human rights of people of African descent, and global calls for reparatory justice.


PFPAD5 Concept note (English | Français | Español | Português)

Date, time and time zone of side event
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
12:30pm-2:30pm with Light Lunch

o Sponsoring organization(s) or entity/ies
World Council of Churches, African Union, Advocacy for Africa Network (AdNA), Africans and African Diaspora Conference (AAD)

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

o Description of the hybrid side event 
While the dominance of the colonial and enslaving powers is predominantly shared and entrenched globally, there have been strong Pan African resistance movements and strategies (in both political, economic, cultural, epistemological, and religious spheres). The enslavement and colonial legacies often attempt to erase these resistance, decolonial movements to create a sense of hopelessness among descendants of their historic victims.  This side event will seek to draw upon the heritage from early Pan-African journeys to strengthen activities that can make the Second International Decade for People of African Descent robust in its resistance to the recolonizing agenda in a renewed geo-political space, globally, regionally and nationally.

In-Person Venue (10-15 minute Bus Ride from UN Venue) : Kyoto Building, WCC Ecumenical Center (Jura), 42 Chemin du Pommier, 1218 Le Grand Saconnex.  Street Address: Hybrid at the World Council of Churches, 150 route de Ferney, Geneva, Switzerland

From the United Nations, take bus 5, 8, or 22 at Appia Bus Stop Pl. N going to Airport, Palexpo, or Carouge-Rondaeu respectively and disembark at Grand-Saconnex, Morillons (second stop from Appia). Follow the bus, Kyoto Building (Glass building on your left ahead of you after the curve). Ecumenical Center is on the second floor).

o Name and email address of the lead organizer (and permission to publish the lead organizer’s contact details)
Dr. Masiiwa Gunda ([email protected]) and Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith ([email protected]) 


Registration and Weblink for any further information
Register in advance for this meeting online and virtually:Meeting Registration - Zoom

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

5ᵉ Forum Permanent des Personnes d’Ascendance Africaine


Venue:
Palais des Nations – Genève, Suisse - Salle III

Dates:
15 avril 2026


Side event organised by:
FMI–PAD Network

Theme / Panel:
Panel sur les Objets Culturels Africains
(Panel on African Cultural Objects)

Panelists:

• Dido Mulumba
• Jonathan Mbiya
• Manon Buchallot

Panel Title / Question:
« Objets pillés en Afrique : Un héritage à redéfinir ou un trésor à restituer ? »
(“Looted Objects in Africa: A Heritage to Redefine or a Treasure to Return?”)

Partnership Mentioned Partenaire :
MEKAS ASBL

Side event
Reparation and Its Many Faces

Date, time and time zone of side event: 
Wednesday 15 April
12:45 – 13:45 pm

Location of the side event: Room XI, building A, Palais des Nations

Sponsoring organization(s) or entity/ies: Observatório da Branquitude (Whiteness Observatory), African Futures Lab, The Guardian, Libera

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

Description of the side event
Reparation is a historical debt that must be claimed. The legacy of slavery and colonialism continues to produce structural racism, poverty and violence against Black populations across all continents. Since Durban (2001), the international recognition of these crimes opened a political agenda that the Whiteness Observatory takes as its central mission: to interrogate the privileges that sustain racial inequalities and to build, alongside leaders from North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa, concrete pathways toward restorative justice. Without memory there is no reparation. Without reparation there is no democracy.

Name and email address of the lead organizer Manuela Thamani; Executive Director, Observatório da Branquitude (Whiteness Observatory) [email protected]

Reparations From Below: A Reparations Simulation Workshop
Date: Wednesday 15 April

Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm CET

Sponsoring organizations: The Amendment Project and the Thurgood Marshall Center for Civil Rights at Howard Law School

Language: English

Description: This workshop will begin with a short lecture on Reparations from Below, utilizing participatory action research from a land restitution case in Burundi by author Theodore Mbazumutima to examine the limitations of top-down, government helmed reparations mechanisms, and explore localized, community-led reparations epistemologies. Guided by facilitators from TAP, participants will select case studies within which to devise reparations plans utilizing Action Cards to represent mechanisms like Truth Commissions, debt cancellations, or foreign asset seizure, putting them in conversation with reparations from below mechanisms that we will develop collectively. We’ll conclude with concrete reparations trajectories and expanded imaginations for repair.

Extended Description: This workshop we will introduce a framework for youth-led reparations developed by reparations scholar Sydni Scott at the University of Oxford: Reparations From Below challenges popular ideas about reparative justice understood as a sequential checklist: cessation of harm, guarantees of non-repetition, restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and satisfaction. Instead, we explore reparations as two intercommunicating streams of action with different loci of power and agency - reparations from above and from Below - This is not a panel, this is a simulation exercise in co-production of revolutionary imagination with the goal of concretizing reparations tools and mechanisms in context. Join us to put the wisdom and lessons from the conference into concrete strategy within the reparations ecosystem

Location: Le Centre International de Conférences (CIGC) 17 rue de Varembe, Genf, CH 1211, Room 9

Lead organizer: Sydni Scott – [email protected] permission to share contact details

Co-organizers: Rute Ayalew and Alexis Rich

RSVP Link: https://forms.gle/8h6x8K5GaE4Rvc9b7

Working Title: “U.S. Foreign Policy Impacts on People of African Descent”


Date: 15 April at 13:30 pm


Location: Auditorium de la Pastorale
106 rue de Ferney, 1202, Geneva

Organizers: The Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice ([email protected]) & the International Civil Society Working Group for the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, Southern Poverty Law Center, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Race, Equality and Human Rights


Background and Rationale
We are experiencing geopolitical shifts that are having significant economic, political, and safety impacts on People of African Descent globally prompted by the election of a U.S. administration that is animated by destroying anything deemed “woke” or “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The U.S. is now openly encouraging Western nations to join in a return to colonialism and imperialism under the guise of restoring Western civilizational expansion and eschewing the need to “atone for the purported sins of past generations.” The growing global network of right-wing, anti-rights governments is expanding rapidly and is facilitated by the U.S. government. This coalition shares a disdain for global efforts to promote the dignity, equality, and rights of marginalized communities and they are actively undermining the United Nations and its bodies, including its anti-racist mechanisms, under the guise of protecting national sovereignty. These efforts have already had devastating consequences on communities of African descent around the world and have the potential to further destabilize the UN mechanisms created to promote the dignity, justice, and development of People of African Descent around the world.
It is against this backdrop that a serious discussion is needed to not only assess the damage of these geopolitical shifts, but to more importantly devise solutions to ensure the safety and rights of People of African Descent worldwide.


The side event aims to:
Discuss in an open and honest way U.S. foreign policy and its current and potential impacts on People of African Descent globally and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD).
Reflect on how communities of African descent historically have responded to and built resilience against fascism, racism, and slavery, while using our own history as potential blueprints for this moment.
Strengthen a shared understanding of how movements can maintain coherence, alignment, and strategic direction in evolving geopolitical contexts.


Potential Guiding Questions:
What tangible impacts have we seen on People of African Descent due to U.S. foreign policy shifts in the Americas and around the world?
What are the likely impacts of U.S. pressures on the UN given the current fiscal crisis and the UN80 reform efforts on the PFPAD and other anti-racism mechanisms?
How can People of African Descent across borders respond to these new realities to ensure the safety and prosperity of our communities?


Fortmat
The side event will be organized as a small conversation to have a focused and action-oriented discussion on how People of African Descent globally can collectively meet this moment through international, national, and local actions. To ensure a meaningful conversation, we will limit participation to 30 people. The discussion will be kicked off by a brief panel of 4-5 experts to set the scene with their analysis of the current policies of the U.S. administration and their impacts on People of African Descent in the United States and around the world. Panelists will be from countries directly impacted by U.S. foreign policy shifts, including Cuba, Venezuela, Nigeria, and/or South Africa, and will include someone from the United States to discuss how domestic policy shifts have impacted Black Americans.

Expected Outcomes
Clearer understanding of the new geopolitical realities and their impacts on People of African Descent through changing bilateral and multilateral priorities.
Identification of ways to protect against the growing global backlash against anti-racism work both domestically and through UN mechanisms.
Strengthened alignment and dialogue across global actors working to advance the rights and development of People of African Descent.


Target Audience
Civil society organizations, movement leaders, representatives of People of African Descent, scholars, policy advocates, and PFPAD Members.

SIDE EVENT 
25 Years of Durban: Global Afro-descendant Solidarity, Reparations and Affirmative Action — Pathways to Inclusion in Public Service

Date and time:
15 April 2026, from 14:00 to 15:00 Geneva time

Sponsoring Organizations or entities:
Peregum Black Reference Institute, Ministry of Racial Equality (Brazil), General Coordination of Memory and Truth on Slavery and the Transatlantic Trafficking of Enslaved People of the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (Brazil), UN Anti-Racism Coalition (UNARC), and International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)

Language in which the side event will be held: Portuguese and English 
*simultaneous translation will be provided 

Description:
Marking the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, this event reflects on its implementation through global solidarity among people of African descent. Acknowledging progress and persistent gaps, it will examine affirmative action and reparatory policies as key tools to address the enduring impacts of slavery, colonialism, and structural racism in different countries. Focusing on access to, retention in, and advancement within public service, the event will foster exchange among human rights defenders and strengthen collective strategies to advance racial equality, social justice, and the democratization of public institutions.

Moderator:Jéssica Ferreira, Esperança Garcia Program Coordinator at Peregum Black Reference Institute

Panelists:
● Rachel Barros, Ministry of Racial Equality (Brazil)
● Douglas Belchior, Advocacy Director at Peregum Black Reference Institute
● Claudia Trindade, Special Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion at the Office of the Attorney General of Brazil (AGU)
● Shari García, International Project Manager at Afro Colombian Women Association (AMUAFROC)

Simultaneous translation to English, Portuguese and Spanishwill be provided(*)
* Those who need translation, please make sure to bring your own cellphones and headphones.

Registration link: https://forms.gle/3VcevoUuQkbbJRjPA

Location:
Conference room at ISHR (International Service for Human Rights), Geneva
Address:
Rue de Varembé 1, 5th floor, Geneva, Switzerland

Name and email of the person responsible for organizing the event:
Sara Branco
[email protected]

Salud y Derechos Afrodiásporicos: justicia y salud desde la perspectiva afrodescendiente  y sus liderazgos.
(DIGNIDAD, JUSTICIA, EQUIDAD Y REPARACIÓN)
 
Propuesta de evento paralelo

Organizado por la Asociación UbuntuEs en Colaboración con: EPIsoHD Research Lab, Pan-Diáspora, Aicold y S&DA

Fecha: 15 de Abril de 14:00 a 15:00 hrs.

Sala III del Palacio de las Naciones, Ginebra, Suiza.

Descripción: El evento paralelo “Salud y Derechos Afrodiásporicos: justicia y salud desde la perspectiva afrodescendiente y sus liderazgos” abordará las desigualdades estructurales y sistemáticas como determinantes sociales de la salud de las personas afrodescendientes y de la diáspora africana. Se centrará en la garantía del derecho humano a la salud, la justicia, la equidad y las reparaciones, en el marco de la Declaración y Programa de Acción de Durban y otros instrumentos internacionales que promueven la igualdad y los derechos humanos. Organizado por UbuntuEs y aliados, promoverá diálogo, visibilización y fortalecimiento de liderazgos afrodescendientes.

Resumen: La diáspora africana constituye una de las comunidades transnacionales más grandes del mundo. Se estima que más de 200 millones[1] de afrodescendientes viven en America latina y muchos millones más viven en otras partes del mundo, fuera del continente africano. Principalmente en las Américas, como resultado de procesos históricos como la trata transatlántica de personas esclavizadas, la herencia de la colonización y la consolidación del racismo estructural, cuyos efectos atraviesan diversas dimensiones de la vida y condicionan los determinantes sociales de la salud de estas poblaciones. Estas inequidades se traducen en vulneraciones de derechos —especialmente del derecho fundamental a la salud—, en un acceso limitado a condiciones materiales para una vida digna y en una mayor exposición a riesgos que deterioran la salud integral. Dichos impactos se ven además agravados en el contexto de fenómenos contemporáneos que interactúan con las manifestaciones actuales del racismo, incluyendo el racismo algorítmico en la inteligencia artificial, así como con dinámicas sociales como la migración, el cambio climático y el desplazamiento forzado.
 
Objetivo GeneralFortalecer la garantía del derecho a la salud de las personas afrodescendientes y de la diáspora africana, mediante la articulación de iniciativas comunitarias, académicas y de incidencia política que promuevan la equidad, la justicia racial y la participación plena en los ámbitos local, nacional y global, considerando los determinantes sociales de la salud y los impactos del racismo estructural y contemporáneo.

Objetivo específico: Incorporar las demandas y necesidades de las personas afrodescendientes y de la diáspora africana en la agenda política y de salud a nivel local, nacional e internacional, mediante evidencia, incidencia, fortalecimiento de capacidades y visibilización de sus experiencias, con el fin de promover la equidad, la justicia racial y el derecho a la salud integral.

Participantes: Asociación AbuntuEs, EPIsoHD Research Lab, Pan-Diáspora, Salud y Derechos Afrodiaspóricos, Aicold, Kissing Lions, y población civil.

Formato:  El evento paralelo se llevará a cabo de forma presencial, mediante moderación y participación activa de la población afrodescendientes, abordado cuestiones pertinentes entorno a la salud integral y los determinantes sociales de la salud, entre otros temas relevantes, una iniciativa liderada por personas afrodescendientes
El evento tendrá una duración de 60min

Se realizará en Español, Inglés (Un panelista) – (sujeta a los medios que disponga la sala que sea asignada).

Resultados esperados
Generación de evidencia sobre inequidades raciales y étnicas en salud de la diáspora africana y poblaciones afrodescendientes.
Fortalecimiento de capacidades de líderes comunitarios, profesionales y académicos afrodescendientes y de la diáspora africana.
Integración de demandas afrodescendientes y de la diáspora africana en la agenda de salud y derechos humanos a nivel local, nacional e internacional.
Visibilización de experiencias y desafíos, promoviendo equidad, justicia racial y participación plena.
Articulación de redes y colaboración entre organizaciones, movimientos sociales e investigadores para dar continuidad a la acción.

Panelistas:
EPIsoHD Research Lab y Pan-Diáspora – Dra. Mabel Carabalí: Médica de la Universidad Libre de Colombia, Doctora en Epidemiología por la Universidad McGill (Canadá), con posdoctorado en Epidemiología Social en la Universidad de Toronto. Profesora adjunta en la Universidad de Montreal, con más de 14 años de experiencia en investigación epidemiológica y biomédica internacional.

UbuntuEs – Eidy Yerlin Mosquera Perea: Abogada. Magíster en Derechos Humanos, Interculturalidad y Desarrollo. Asesora y consultora en asuntos afrodescendientes y afrodiaspóricos. Cuenta con más de cinco años de investigación en la intersección entre el racismo, la salud y los derechos humanos, especialmente el derecho a la salud y los determinantes sociales de la salud. Miembro del Consejo Asesor Antirracista de Barcelona, del Grupo de Trabajo Internacional de la Sociedad Civil (IWG–PFPAD) y de la Coalición Global para la Salud Sexual y Reproductiva y los Derechos de Mujeres y Adolescentes Afrodescendientes (UNFPA).

Aicold- Beatriz Quesada: Docente comprometida con la preservación del patrimonio cultural inmaterial de las comunidades negras, vinculando estos saberes con el bienestar, la dignidad y los derechos afrodiásporicos. Promueve la educación intercultural, el reconocimiento de tradiciones y la participación comunitaria, contribuyendo al fortalecimiento de identidades y al empoderamiento desde los propios liderazgos afrodescendientes.
 
Kissing Lions- Kahshanna Evan: Miembro del Consejo Asesor de la Red y Centro de Recursos Informados sobre Trauma del Estado de Nueva York (NYS TINRC), y estratega senior en Kissing Lions Public Relations.
Salud y derechos Afrodiásporicos - Mabel Carabali y Eidy Yerlin Mosquera Perea

Observaciones finales 
Pastor Elias Murillo: Abogado, Miembro del foro permanente sobre los afrodescendientes, actualmente consultor independiente, miembro del Comité Directivo del Proyecto "Impacto Economista en la Inclusión en Salud" (Grupo The Economist). Fue miembro (2008 -2020) y vicepresidente (2018 -2020) del Comité para la Eliminación de la Discriminación Racial (CERD) de la ONU. Tiene más de 17 años de experiencia en el nivel directivo y asesor de los Ministerios del Interior y de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia. Ha publicado varios ensayos y columnas de opinión sobre los derechos de los afrodescendientes. Autor y promotor de varias iniciativas internacionales a favor de los afrodescendientes, entre ellas el Año-Decenio; las Recomendaciones Generales 34 y 36 del CERD sobre el racismo y la discriminación racial contra los afrodescendientes y sobre los perfiles raciales, que también abordan el sesgo algorítmico, respectivamente; así como las contribuciones del CERD al Programa de Actividades del Decenio, que incluyen una Declaración Internacional sobre los Derechos de los Afrodescendientes, actualmente en curso.

Moderador: Agatha Miranda Mba.

Time:14:00 - 15:00

Duration:60 minutes

Venue: Room XI, building A, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

Organizers
People of African Descent Stakeholder Group, in collaboration with Criola, Geledés – Black Woman Institute and UNARC - Antiracism Coalition.


Background and rationale
The international community is facing a period of profound uncertainty marked by rising geopolitical tensions, recurring armed conflicts, increasing militarization, uneven respect for international law, and growing pressures on multilateral institutions. In this context, renewed reflection is needed on the role of multilateralism as a framework for dialogue, norm-setting, accountability and international cooperation.

For people of African descent, these global dynamics carry particular significance. Contemporary crises do not unfold in a vacuum; they are shaped by longstanding structural inequalities, including racial hierarchies, patterns of exclusion, uneven access to development, and persistent barriers to the full enjoyment of human rights. These realities reinforce the importance of ensuring that multilateral spaces remain responsive to the historical experiences, contemporary demands and political agency of people of African descent.

This proposed side event seeks to contribute to that reflection by bringing together representatives of the Permanent Forum, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Member States and civil society organizations to discuss why multilateralism continues to matter in times of crisis, and how ongoing multilateral processes can be more effectively engaged in support of racial justice, reparatory justice and inclusive global governance.

The event will also provide an opportunity to present the role of the People of African Descent Stakeholder Group as a platform for articulation, participation and engagement in multilateral processes, including by sharing information on its structure, methods of work, priorities and opportunities for broader collaboration.

At a moment when many communities are questioning the effectiveness of international institutions, this dialogue aims not only to reaffirm the relevance of multilateralism, but also to emphasize the need for a multilateralism that is more democratic, more inclusive, and more attentive to the rights and aspirations of people of African descent.

Objectives
This side event has four interrelated objectives.

First, to promote reflection on the continued relevance of multilateralism in addressing contemporary global challenges, particularly in a context of conflict, fragmentation and weakened trust in international institutions.

Second, to examine the implications of current global crises for people of African descent, including the ways in which racial inequality, exclusion and historical injustice continue to shape access to rights, protection and development.

Third, to explore the relationship between multilateral processes and key agendas of concern to people of African descent, including human rights, reparatory justice, financing for development, international tax cooperation, climate justice and broader debates on global governance.

Fourth, to present the People of African Descent Stakeholder Group as a mechanism for strengthening participation, coordination and collective advocacy across relevant multilateral spaces.

Guiding questions
Why does multilateralism still matter in the current global context?

How do present-day crises affect people of African descent and related struggles for equality, justice and dignity?

How can multilateral spaces better address historical injustices, structural racism and the demands of reparatory justice?

Which ongoing international processes should receive greater attention from civil society organizations, Forum members and supportive States working on the rights of people of African descent?

How can the People of African Descent Stakeholder Group contribute to stronger coordination, meaningful participation and more strategic engagement in global governance processes?

Format
The event is conceived as a 60-minute high-level strategic dialogue, intended to bring together institutional reflection, political analysis and practical orientation.A possible structure could be as follows:

Opening remarks
The event will begin with introductory remarks by the moderator, who will briefly frame the discussion in light of the current international context and recall the broader considerations informing the exchange. These include the continued relevance of multilateralism in a period marked by crisis and fragmentation, the implications of contemporary global dynamics for people of African descent, and the relationship between multilateral processes, reparatory justice and global governance.

Round of interventions
The discussion will then proceed to a first round of concise interventions by invited speakers. This segment will provide space for institutional and political reflections on the role of multilateral institutions and international cooperation in responding to contemporary crises, as well as on the ways in which ongoing international processes may more effectively address structural racism, historical injustice and the demand for reparatory approaches across political, economic, social, cultural and environmental dimensions.

Moderated dialogue / focused strategic exchange
Building on the initial interventions, the moderator will guide a focused exchange around one central question: Which multilateral processes require more immediate coordination? This part of the discussion will seek to identify relevant institutional spaces, negotiations, mechanisms and advocacy tracks that call for stronger and more immediate articulation among Forum members, United Nations actors, Member States and civil society.

Closing
The event will conclude with brief closing remarks by the moderator, highlighting key points emerging from the discussion, expressing appreciation to participants and encouraging continued coordination and engagement beyond the panel.

Proposed speakers and participants
Permanent Forum and United Nations representatives
● H.E. Martin Kimani, Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
● Ms. Isabelle Mamadou, Member of the Working Group of Specialists on People of African Descent
● Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Stakeholder Group and civil society representatives
● Representative of the People of African Descent Stakeholder Group
● Representative of Coalizão Negra por Direitos

Member States and other institutional invitees
● Kenya
● Brazil
● Colombia

All members of the Permanent Forum may also be invited to attend.

Expected outcomes

The event is expected to contribute to:
A stronger shared understanding of the importance of multilateral engagement in advancing the rights of people of African descent in a period of global instability.

Greater visibility for the connections between racial justice, reparatory justice and broader questions of global governance.

Enhanced dialogue among Forum members, United Nations representatives, Member States and civil society organizations on key multilateral processes requiring coordinated attention.

Panel #2: Reparatory justice and cultural heritage: museums and restitution


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

Reparatory justice has emerged as a central demand in addressing the enduring legacies of enslavement, colonialism, apartheid, and systemic racism affecting people of African descent. These historical injustices have produced structural inequalities that continue to shape access to resources, opportunities, and the enjoyment of human rights across generations. As many museums continue to hold artifacts that were stolen or appropriated during these periods, the restitution of cultural heritage has become a critical component of reparatory justice. Some action has been initiated at national, regional and international levels, including OHCHR recommendations, General Assembly resolutions on the return or restitution of cultural property,1 the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, which emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage for identity, dignity, and sustainable development, further practical action is needed.

Returning looted or appropriated artifacts and ensuring inclusive narratives are essential steps toward acknowledging past wrongs, restoring dignity, and promoting equity for affected communities. Therefore, this panel will examine restitution not only as a normative or technical matter, but as a substantive issue linked to historical justice and reparations, cultural continuity, and intergenerational rights. It will also reflect on the evolving role of museums and approaches to cooperation, and consider how discussions on cultural heritage and restitution can contribute to shaping the content of the United Nations declaration on the respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of people of African descent, drawing from the programme of activities of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.


PFPAD5 Concept note (English | Français | Español | Português)
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1. See A/RES/79/133; A/HRC/47/53   

Reparatory Justice within the context of Decolonisation: Harvesting the Low-Hanging Fruits
Date and time: 15th of April 2026 / 16:30-19:00 (CET Geneva time)

Venue
Université Ouvrière de Genève3, place des Grottes - 1201 Geneva
Behind Geneva Main Train station (Gare Cornavin) www.uog.ch

Format: The Side Event is composed of a Keynote, Inputs, followed by a panel discussion

Participation level: Swiss and Global African Diaspora, Delegates of the 5th Session of the UN PFPAD, Representatives of UN institutions and mechanisms (OHCHR, HRC), Ambassadors-Permanent Representatives, High-level Experts (Academia and Thinktanks), Reporting Committees and other relevant UN mechanisms, civil society and media organizations.Around 100 participants are expected to attend

Organizer(s) and stakeholders: African Diaspora Council of Switzerland, African Foundation for Migration and Development, Espace Afrique International.

1. Background and Rationale

A. Background
25.03.2026: On this International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans "the gravest Crime against Humanity" and calling for reparations "as a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs." The resolution also urges “the prompt and unhindered restitution” of cultural items — including artworks, monuments, museum pieces, documents and national archives — to their countries of origin without charge.

In approving the resolution, the General Assembly affirms the importance of addressing the historical wrongs of slavery that promotes "justice, human rights, dignity and healing." The resolution calls on U.N. member nations to engage in talks “on reparatory justice, including a full and formal apology, measures of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, guarantees of non-repetition and changes to laws, programs and services to address racism and systemic discrimination.”

17.11.2025: According to a recent publication on Reparatory Justice issued by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights2, over 30 million people were violently uprooted from Africa for enslavement. No country with a legacy of enslavement, the trade in enslaved Africans and colonialism has fully confronted this past, accounted for the harms suffered and repaired its continuing negative impacts on Africans and people of African descent.

It further notes that global calls for reparatory justice have been growing. Some States, universities, religious groups and businesses that profited —or continue to profit— from legacies of enslavement and colonialism have suddenly started to act. Delivering reparatory justice is more urgent than ever. And human rights offer a powerful framework to move forward.

13.12.2024: This publication underscores the position of its earlier publication in December 2024 which also focuses on reparatory justice for people of African descent. It acknowledges increased acceptance of the need to address the continuing impacts of enslavement and colonialism, including through reparatory justice. It reviews existing frameworks and initiatives and identifies areas for further consideration. It contains recommendations for States to take a comprehensive approach, grounded in international human rights law, that seeks to address legacies of the past in order to build societies that are free from systemic racism and racial discrimination. To achieve these objectives effectively, the approach should be participatory, gender-sensitive and inclusive, and should combine a plurality of measures, including, where appropriate, restitution, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.

Before the aforementioned UN interventions, Reparatory Justice has been a subject of public discourse in various international and regional fora.

21.08.2019: In 2019, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance described the issue of reparative justice as an "urgent project" to which the community of states must respond absolutely.

407.08.2024: UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent5 emphasize the need for due recognition of the suffering inflicted on the victims of slavery, deportation and colonization as well as the need for structural reparation for the intergenerational damage caused by such acts.

08.09.2001: The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA)6 recognised that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of colonialism and continue to be victims of its consequences. Furthermore, the effects and persistence of these structures and practices have been among the factors contributing to lasting social and economic inequalities in many parts of the world today.

17.11.2023: In 2023, at a conference co-organized by the Republic of Ghana and the African Union, African states adopted the Accra Proclamation on Reparations, which called for a united front for justice and reparations, including "the exploration of legal and judicial options for reparations"

16.02.2025: In line with this logic of obtaining reparations through the law, the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, upon a proposal by the Republic of Togo, adopted on 16 February 2025 a historic decision on the "Qualification of slavery, deportation and colonization as crimes against humanity and genocide against the peoples of Africa".

14.11.2024 / 18.12.2025: This major decision is in line with the relevant resolution of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) on reparations for Africans and people of African descent, adopted in 2024 and the African Union's 2025 theme: "Justice for people of African descent through reparations", and the declaration of 2026–2036 as the Decade of Reparations on December 18, 2025.

09.09.2025: Last year, the African Union and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held the 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 7 to 9, 2025, to strengthen integration and cooperation between the two regions, particularly in the context of seeking reparations for historical wrongs. This common front tries to consolidate the shared commitment of both regions, drawing in particular on relevant initiatives within CARICOM such as the CARICOM 10-point plan for reparatory justice developed by the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC).

These initiatives are urgent appeals for a more committed and decisive international law, for the international recognition of the cruelty of these crimes and their fair legal qualification, and for the consolidation of the legitimate right to reparations.

23.10.2025: A High Level Event Organised on 23rd of October 2025 at the UN Office in Geneva by the Permanent Missions of the Republics of Togo, Ghana and South Africa in collaboration with Permanent Delegation of the African Union, and CARICOM coordination Office in Geneva centred on the theme Consolidating the normative framework in the struggle for justice for the victims of slavery, deportation and colonization: Contribution of international law and UN mechanisms for just and lasting reparations" also addressed the Reparatory Justice from the angle of the International Law and UN mechanisms.

(More information on the attached concept note)

Side event 
Switzerland questioning neutrality through urban colonial past

Date, time and time zone of side event

Date event 1: A Decolonial sight seeing in Geneva April 15th 2026, Time: 17.00 PM visit starting at 17:30pm of the Decolonial sightseeing in Geneva.

Date event 2: April 18 - visit of the new exhibition at Chateau Prangins " “Colonialisme. Une Suisse impliquée” at the Château Prangins

Main Organizers
People of African Descent Belgium Observatory - (PAD Belgium Observatory) - CRAN and UPAF.CH

Co-Sponsored by
* EPAF-PAD Belgium* Tiye International
* MRAX
*Women for Peace in the World

Language(s) in which the side event will be held
English and French. On the basis of the registrations

Description of the side event
The Context
Join us for 2 powerful and thought-provoking journeys through Geneva hidden colonial histories. On April 15 a decolonial walking sightseeing tour, organized by PAD Belgium Observatory, the guidance of UPAF.CH and Collectif Afro Suisse, will shed light on the traces of colonialism in buildings and monuments in urban Geneva.

On April 18th -afternoon join this visit at Chateau Prangin where the National Museum is showing after Zürich a sampler version of the exhibition that uncovers the country's colonial past and its current ramification.

Location of the side event
Point of meeting
15th April & 18th April Maison Internationale des Associations front of the visitors entry

Email address of the lead organizer: [email protected]


Registration link https:https://forms.gle/8mcpynQTmbwwT1d69 

From Task Force to Implementation: Lessons from California’s Reparations Process

Date, Time, and Time Zone:
April 15, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Pacific Time, UTC−7)


Sponsoring Organization(s):
Kamilah Moore (Independent Expert; Former Chair, California Reparations Task Force)


Language(s):
English


Description of the Side Event:
Situated within global efforts marking 25 years since the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, this side event will examine California’s Reparations Task Force as a contemporary case study in the design and implementation of reparatory justice frameworks for people of African descent. The discussion will address institutional architecture, eligibility criteria, constitutional and legal viability, and intergenerational impacts, including for youth as rights-holders and agents of change. Drawing on both achievements and limitations, the session will generate implementation-oriented recommendations and identify replicable practices to inform States, international mechanisms, and the ongoing work of the Permanent Forum.


Location of the Side Event:
Virtual event. Registration required.


Register here:
https://gforms.app/r/Oz74Xzn


Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83288300790?pwd=SbzlSW1zvK9qUYBOj3ElHUNkkobjVT.1
Meeting ID: 832 8830 0790
Passcode: 892286


Email Address of Lead Organizer:
[email protected]

Durban+25: Women and Youth of African Descent for Climate Justice and Global Solidarity

Date, Time and Time Zone: 15 April 2026, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (CET)

Location of the Side Event: Maison Internationale des Associations, Geneva, Switzerland
Address : Rue des Savoises 151205 Genève

Sponsoring Organization(s) or Entity/ies:

- AstroNoir Ltd. (UK)
-Integrated Policy Research Institute (USA)
-CMCC Foundation (Italy)
-Jamaican Association of Switzerland (Switzerland) - tbc

Language(s) in Which the Side Event Will Be Held: English

Description of the Side Event
In the context of the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, this side event will explore how education and ancestral knowledge systems can facilitate the transfer of climate-relevant knowledge, skills, and agency to women and youth of African descent. The discussion will highlight the intersections of racial inequality, gender disparities, and climate vulnerability, while showcasing youth leadership and community-based initiatives that integrate traditional knowledge with innovative solutions. It will also examine policy approaches and partnerships that strengthen local capacity, amplify agency, and advance inclusive climate action, environmental justice, and sustainable development.

Regitration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/durban25-women-and-youth-of-african-descent-for-climate-justice-tickets-1987036004178?aff=oddtdtcreator

Name and Email Address of the Lead Organiser (and Moderator) Name: Chaneil James, MSc.
Organisation: AstroNoir Ltd.
Email: [email protected]

Event Title: Prophetic resistances: the advocacy of black christianities in the expansion of racial justice in african and afro-diasporic nations.
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15th | 6:30pm — 8pm
Sponsoring Organizations: Movimento Negro Evangélico do Brasil
Language(s): English and Portuguese
Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Geneva (ELCG)
Address: Rue Verdaine 20, 1204 Genève, Switzerland
Registration: https://forms.gle/se1Na7XphSBJMMR17
Format: Hybrid (The link will be sent by email up to one hour before the event to registered participants)
Event Description: 
Faith is also a field of struggle. This event hopes to explore the transformative role of Black Christianities as a catalyst for global racial justice. By working on the intersection of faith and political activism, we'll analyze how prophetic resistance serves as a vital tool in dismantling systemic inequality across Africa and the Afro-diaspora. Attendees will engage with the historical and contemporary advocacy strategies that continue to shape the fight for liberation.
More information: www.mnebrasil.org

 
Contact: 
Gabriela Leite
[email protected]
+55 24 988429962

Background
On 17 March 2026, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Brussels Court of First Instance decided to refer Étienne Davignon to the criminal court in connection with the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, alongside Joseph Okito (President of the Senate) and Maurice Mpolo (Minister of Youth and Sports). This decision follows more than fifteen years of legal efforts led by the children and grandchildren of Patrice Lumumba in their pursuit of justice.

Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was executed in Katanga on 17 January 1961, a few months after the country’s independence from Belgium in June 1960. Following political tensions and international interferences, Lumumba was arrested, detained, and transferred to the secessionist province of Katanga, where he was assassinated alongside his companions.

For the first time in over six decades, individual criminal responsibility for this assassination may be examined before a court of law. This historic development challenges long-standing assumptions that colonial crimes cannot be prosecuted and signals a potential shift in addressing impunity for political crimes linked to colonization.

More than 60 years after his assassination, the Lumumba case remains of profound relevance not only for the Democratic Republic of Congo, but for broader discussions on justice, accountability, and the legacy of colonial violence across Africa. The targeted elimination of political leaders during and after independence has had lasting consequences on governance, stability, and development across the continent.

About the Event
Organized in the framework of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, this in-person side event seeks to bring the Lumumba case into an international space of discussion.

While the case has primarily unfolded within the Belgian political and judicial sphere, its implications extend far beyond national borders. By situating the Lumumba case within broader debates on political colonial crimes, accountability, and reparations, the event aims to contribute to its internationalization and to strengthen global engagement around the pursuit of justice.

The discussion will bring together members of the Lumumba family, legal representatives, international experts, and civil society actors to explore both the legal and political dimensions of this historic case.

Speakers
Panel discussion (120 min) followed by Q&A:

•Yema Lumumba, Granddaughter of Patrice Lumumba
•Jehosheba Bennett, Legal counsel to the Lumumba family (Jus Cogens)•Makmid Kamara, Founder & Director, Reforms Initiative
•Dr. Ibrahima Guissé, Expert, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) & African Union Committee of Experts on Reparations (AUCER)
•Geneviève Kaninda, Advocacy & Policy Officer, African Futures Lab (Moderator)

Practical Info
Date: 15 April 2026
Time: 6.30PM - 20.30 CEST
Location: The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights - Rue de Lausanne 120B, Geneva
Link to register (mandatory) : https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Q7VWkkMx4p

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Geneva time zone

Location: Geneva Centre for Security Policy. 5th Floor Conference Room
Maison de la paix, Chemin Eugene-Rigot 2D, P.O. Box 1295, 1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland

Organizing Organizations
-Association of Afro-Colombian Women - AMUAFROC (Colombia)
-Institute of Peoples, Territories and Pedagogies for Peace - IPTP (Canada/Colombia)
-Ife Cultural Library (Colombia)
-Dalhousie University (Canada)

Languages: English and Spanish

Objective:
-To strengthen the voices of Afro-descendant and African women in the global discourse and agenda on reparations.
-To provide recommendations led by Afro-descendant and African women on reparations processes that respond to the realities faced by our peoples in the context of the global crisis

Contact organization:
Shari Garcia (Association of Afro-Colombian Women AMUAFROC) [email protected] ; [email protected]

Side Event


Reparations as Personhood; From the DDPA to Baltimore City

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 7:00-9:00pm

Co-Sponsors: Solitude International Consortium, Aging People in Prison Human Rights Campaign, Malcolm X Center for Self Determination, Women's Council, Geneva Graduate Institute Afrique and Feminist Collective, TAI (Teaching Artist Collective) SHEROES

Language: English

Description: This event brings together a film screening and panel discussion to examine the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a living framework for reparatory justice. The session will revisit the DDPA’s core principles, obligations, instruments, and its relevance today. Linking global commitments to local struggle through a screening of the documentary short, Pay Up, Get Out of the Way, the event will highlight evidence of government-sanctioned harm in Baltimore, a US city heavily targeted for racial repression. Panelists will discuss the idea of reparations as personhood and its implementation in reparative action and local, national, and international accountability.

Location: Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID), Chem. Eugène-Rigot 2, 1202
Maison de la Paix, S12

 Lead Organizer: Tomiko Shine, [email protected]