IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 713 

Supporting the goals and ideals of the designation of January 1, 2015, 

to December 31, 2024, as the ‘‘International Decade for People of 

African Descent’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 25, 2018 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia (for himself, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, 

Mr. MEEKS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. SERRANO, 

Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. RUSH, Ms. LEE, Ms. CLARKE of 

New York, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. MOORE, Ms. BASS, Mr. DAVID

SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Ms. JACKSON LEE) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 

Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of the designation of January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2024, as the ‘‘International Decade for People of African Descent’’. 

Whereas the decade commencing on January 1, 2015, and 

ending on December 31, 2024, has been designated as 

the ‘‘International Decade for People of African Descent’’ 

with the theme ‘‘People of African descent: recognition, 

justice and development’’; 

Whereas the African Diaspora is expansive, spanning across 

the globe from Latin America and the Caribbean to Asia 

and Europe, with persons of African descent having had 


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a historical presence and currently residing on every continent; 

Whereas during the ‘‘International Decade for People of African Descent’’ governments and civil society across the 

globe join together with people of African descent to promote respect, protection, and the fulfilment of human 

rights and fundamental freedoms; 

Whereas during the ‘‘International Decade for People of African Descent’’ governments in concert with civil society 

are to strengthen national, regional and international action and cooperation to facilitate the full and equal participation of people of African descent in society, promote 

a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contributions of people of African descent to the development of societies, and to strengthen 

and implement legal frameworks that combat racial discrimination; 

Whereas during the ‘‘International Decade for People of African Descent’’ governments are to utilize reliable statistical data to develop and implement in concert with civil 

society measurable national action plans and other strategies to address racial disparities impacting people of African descent in the justice, wealth, education, employment, health, housing, development, and other sectors; 

Whereas government efforts of the ‘‘International Decade for 

People of African Descent’’ are to also promote the history and heritage of people of African descent, including 

through research and education, the full and accurate inclusion of their history and contributions in educational 

curricula, and by recognizing the victims and descendants 

of the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism, as a 


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means of upholding their human dignity and equality and 

promoting societal reconciliation and healing; 

Whereas government efforts of the ‘‘International Decade for 

People of African Descent’’ are to also enable the full, 

equal and effective participation of people of African descent in public and political affairs; and 

Whereas, on December 10, 2014, Ambassador Samantha 

Power, United States Permanent Representative to the 

United Nations, at the General Assembly Special Event 

on the International Decade for People of African Descent stated, ‘‘The United States comes to the International Decade for People of African Descent with a full 

and robust commitment to ensuring the rights of persons 

of African descent, and to combating racism and discrimination against them.’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of the ‘‘Inter3 national Decade for People of African Descent’’; 

4 (2) supports the establishment of a global af5 fairs strategy and assistance for people of African 

6 descent; 

7 (3) supports the expansion of current efforts by 

8 the United Nations, Organization for Security and 

9 Cooperation in Europe, Organization for American 

10 States, and other international organizations to ad11 dress the human rights situation of people of Afri12 can Descent; 


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1 (4) calls upon the United States in cooperation 

2 with civil society (African descent communities, aca3 demics, activists, businesses, and philanthropic orga4 nizations) to develop and implement domestic and 

5 global strategies to execute the goals and ideals of 

6 the ‘‘International Decade for People of African De7 scent’’ and to combat racism, including by expand8 ing the transformative work of the United States 

9 Department of State’s Race, Ethnicity, and Social 

10 Inclusion Unit in this regard; and 

11 (5) reaffirms the commitment of Congress to 

12 combat racism, discrimination, and intolerance in 

13 the United States and around the globe. 

Æ 


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