Fifth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

Item 1: Opening of the session
Item 2: Appointment of Chair, Vice-Chair and Rapporteur of the Permanent Forum
Item 3: Adoption of the agenda and programme of work

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)

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   

Panel #3: Youth of African descent: Rights-holders and agents of change

The panel will take place on Thursday 16 April from 10:00 to 13:00.

Youth of African descent face systemic and structural inequalities across social, economic, educational, and political spheres. Within education systems, youth of African descent are more likely to encounter exclusionary curricula, discriminatory disciplinary practices, and limited access to quality learning environments, undermining educational outcomes and pathways to decent work. Economic insecurity, including high levels of unemployment and informal work, further constrains opportunities for autonomy, wealth creation, and social mobility. Discriminatory policing practices, racial profiling, and unequal treatment by law enforcement and in criminal justice systems heighten exposure to violence, arbitrary detention, and criminalization. Barriers to political participation, compounded by experiences of racialized violence, harassment, and mistrust of public institutions further restrict the ability of youth of African descent to engage meaningfully in decision-making processes.

At the same time, contemporary dynamics, including digitalization and emerging technologies, are reshaping the experiences of youth of African descent, introducing new forms of exclusion while also creating opportunities for mobilization, leadership, and innovation. The discussion will highlight youth leadership, participation, and innovation in advancing human rights, and explore how States and institutions can meaningfully engage and empower youth as partners in shaping policies under the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.

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

Panel #4: The Permanent Forum at five: Mandate, Achievements and Opportunities 

The panel will take place on Thursday 16 April from 15:00 to 18:00.

The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent was established as a consultative mechanism to serve as a platform for dialogue and expert advice on issues affecting people of African descent. Since its operationalization in 2021, the Permanent Forum has become the largest platform within the UN system bringing together diverse stakeholders to discuss the human rights concerns of people of African descent.

Over its five years of existence, the Permanent Forum has addressed approximately 20 priority themes across its annual sessions, including reparatory and climate justice, equality and non-discrimination, systemic racism and data collection, health and intergenerational trauma, sustainable development, economic justice, education and culture, the human rights of women and youth of African descent, AI and digital justice, the human rights situation in Haiti, the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, and the draft UN Declaration on the respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of people of African descent. Engaging more than 3,500 participants across its sessions, the Permanent Forum has issued over 140 recommendations, while amplifying the voices of people of African descent, contributing to international norm-setting processes, raising global awareness, advising States and stakeholders on policy, and fostering coordinated international action towards racial justice.

Amid a global context marked by increasing racism against people of African descent and renewed challenges to policies that ensure racial justice, the work of the Permanent Forum is more relevant than ever. In this regard, this panel will assess the Permanent Forum’s contribution to advancing the human rights of people of African descent, examine the uptake of its recommendations, and explore how to further the implementation of its mandate and impact. It will also consider the Permanent Forum’s role with regard to the Second International Decade for People of African Descent and the drafting of a UN Declaration on the respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of people of African descent.

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

Please note that this is an internal meeting among the Members of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.