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 RationaleWe 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?
FortmatThe 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 OutcomesClearer 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 AudienceCivil society organizations, movement leaders, representatives of People of African Descent, scholars, policy advocates, and PFPAD Members.
