Discussing the Recognition of African Descent Communities as Peoples of African Descent
Date: 16 April 2026
Time: 12:45 - 13:45
Duration: 1 hour
Venue: Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Room III, building A
OrganizersCONAQ (Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas)
Proposed institutional invitees and partnersMembers of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); interested Member States engaged in the negotiations toward the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent; representatives of academia; civil society organizations and community leaders.
Background and rationaleAcross the Americas and in other regions, many communities of African descent continue to preserve collective ways of life, territorial bonds, cultural practices, systems of knowledge, and forms of social and political organization that are central to their identity and survival. Yet, despite their historical continuity and collective existence, these communities have not always been adequately recognized within international normative and political frameworks in ways that fully reflect their rights, agency, and specific realities.
The ongoing negotiations toward a future United Nations Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent offer a timely opportunity to reflect more deeply on the recognition of African descent communities as peoples of African descent. This discussion is not merely terminological. It has important implications for how international law, multilateral institutions, and public policies understand collective identity, land rights, traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, consultation, participation, and self-organization.
This proposed side event seeks to create a space for dialogue among Member States, civil society representatives, community leadership and academia on the importance of recognizing African descent communities as peoples of African descent. In doing so, it aims to contribute to ongoing multilateral discussions by highlighting the political, legal, historical and practical significance of such recognition.
The discussion will be particularly relevant in light of international standards that affirm that people of African descent, whether dispersed among the broader population or living in communities, are entitled to exercise specific rights without discrimination, including rights related to lands traditionally occupied by them, natural resources where their ways of life are linked to such resources, cultural identity, forms of organization, traditional knowledge, cultural and artistic heritage, and prior consultation in decisions that may affect their rights.
At a time when global debates on equality, reparatory justice, and collective rights are gaining renewed relevance, this event intends to help advance a more nuanced and substantive understanding of the place of African descent communities within the broader international agenda concerning the rights of people of African descent.
ObjectivesThis side event has four interrelated objectives.
-First, to promote reflection on the importance of recognizing African descent communities as peoples of African descent within ongoing multilateral and normative discussions.
-Second, to examine the legal, political and historical implications of such recognition, particularly in relation to collective rights, identity, territory, cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and consultation.
-Third, to contribute to the ongoing negotiations toward the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent by fostering exchange among States, civil society and academia.
-Fourth, to strengthen dialogue on how international standards and multilateral spaces can more effectively reflect the lived realities, historical experiences and collective rights of African descent communities.
Guiding questionsWhat is at stake in recognizing African descent communities as peoples of African descent?
How does this recognition relate to existing international standards on collective rights, cultural identity, land, consultation and traditional knowledge?
What are the legal and political implications of this discussion in the context of the negotiations toward the future United Nations Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent?
How can Member States, civil society and academic actors contribute to a more robust and inclusive understanding of the rights of African descent communities?
What would a more meaningful international recognition of African descent communities require in normative and institutional terms?
Proposed formatThe event is envisioned as a 60-minute strategic dialogue, combining normative reflection, community-based perspectives and multilateral exchange.
A possible structure could be as follows:
Opening remarks
Introductory reflections on the significance of the topic and its relevance to the current work of the Permanent Forum and to the ongoing negotiations on the draft Declaration.
Panel discussion
A moderated conversation among representatives of Member States, civil society, community leadership and academia on the importance of recognizing African descent communities as peoples of African descent, with attention to legal implications, collective rights, and current political debates.
Interactive exchange
Questions, comments and contributions from participants.
Closing remarks
Summary of key reflections and possible pathways for continued engagement in the negotiations and related multilateral discussions.
Expected outcomesThe event is expected to contribute to:
A stronger shared understanding of the importance of recognizing African descent communities as peoples of African descent within international normative and political processes.
Greater visibility for the connections between collective rights, racial justice, cultural identity, land, traditional knowledge and consultation in the context of African descent communities.
Enhanced dialogue among Member States, United Nations representatives, civil society, academia and community leadership on this issue within the framework of the ongoing draft Declaration negotiations.
A more grounded and substantive contribution to international discussions on the rights of people of African descent, particularly with respect to communities whose collective existence and historical experience require more explicit recognition.
Relevance to the Permanent ForumThis event is aligned with the mandate and broader objectives of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent insofar as it promotes dialogue, strengthens participation and advances reflection on the international protection of the rights of people of African descent. It also directly relates to ongoing efforts to deepen the normative content of international standards applicable to people of African descent and to ensure that such standards adequately reflect the realities of communities organized around shared history, territory, culture and collective forms of life.
By focusing on the recognition of African descent communities as peoples of African descent, the event seeks to contribute to a more robust conversation on rights, dignity, historical justice and international recognition within contemporary multilateral processes.
Draft short description for circulationThis side event will bring together Member States, civil society representatives, community leaders and academia to discuss the importance of
