IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 256 
Recognizing people of African descent and Black Europeans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 26, 2019 
Mr. HASTINGS (for himself, Ms. MOORE, Mr. LEWIS, and Mr. MEEKS) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing people of African descent and Black Europeans. 
Whereas the 109th Congress passed H. Con. Res. 60 and S. 
Con. Res. 90, recognizing African descendants in Latin 
America and the Caribbean, raising awareness of the rac-
ism and discrimination faced by those communities, and 
leading to numerous public and private sector initiatives 
between the United States and Latin American and Car-
ibbean countries to improve the situation of African de-
scendants; 
Whereas the persistence of racism and discrimination in Eu-
rope similarly necessitates congressional action to raise 
awareness and promote public and private sector initia-
tives to stem this trend; 
Whereas the May 19, 2018, royal wedding of Meghan Markle 
and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, raised awareness 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
of the long history and situation of African-descent popu-
lations in Europe; 
Whereas the terms ‘‘Afro-European’’, ‘‘African European’’, 
or ‘‘Black European’’ refer to people of African ancestry 
or descent born in, citizens of, or living in Europe; 
Whereas an estimated 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 Black Euro-
peans live in and have long had a presence in Europe, 
forming an influential part of the African diaspora; 
Whereas the story of Black Europeans remains widely untold, 
rendering many of their past and present contributions to 
the political and social life of Europe invisible or forgot-
ten; 
Whereas unlike more contemporary figures, largely unknown 
Blacks have made significant contributions to European 
history and culture, including Spanish poet Juan Latino, 
Italian 
Duke 
Alessandro 
Medici, 
French 
novelist 
Alexandre Dumas, German scholar Anthony William 
Amo, French Composer Le Chevalier de St. George, Brit-
ish abolitionist Oladuah Equiano, and Russian General 
and Governor Abram Hannibal, great-grandfather of 
Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin; 
Whereas the largest estimated populations of Black Euro-
peans can be found in France (approximately 2,500,000), 
the United Kingdom (approximately 1,500,000), and the 
Netherlands (approximately 500,000), in addition to size-
able populations in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, 
Norway, Ireland, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, 
Denmark, and Austria; 
Whereas the presence of Blacks in Europe can be traced to 
voluntary and forced migration resulting from the geo-
graphical proximity of Europe to Africa and the Middle 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
East, including the transatlantic slave trade, the coloniza-
tion of Africa and the Caribbean, African and African- 
American military deployments, the movement of refu-
gees and asylum seekers, and educational and other pro-
fessional exchanges; 
Whereas although Black Europeans have made significant 
achievements in and contributions to European society, 
large numbers have and continue to be more likely than 
the general population to experience discrimination and 
be underrepresented in leadership roles in the public and 
private sector as a result of the color of their skin and 
ancestry; 
Whereas racism has long been, and continues to be, a prob-
lem in Europe; 
Whereas, on April 29, 2008, before the Commission on Secu-
rity and Cooperation in Europe, at a hearing entitled 
‘‘The State of (In)visible Black Europe: Race, Rights, 
and Politics’’, Dr. Philomena Essed stated, ‘‘Probably the 
only common European experience among many, if not 
all, Afro-descendants is their exposure to [. . .] racism 
and systemic discrimination, regardless of country, socio- 
economic conditions, gender, age, or level of education.’’; 
Whereas, as early as 1997, the European Commission opinion 
poll entitled ‘‘Racism and Xenophobia in Europe’’ re-
ported a ‘‘worrying level of racism and xenophobia in 
[European Union] member states, with nearly 33% of 
those interviewed openly describing themselves as ‘quite 
racist’ or ‘very racist’.’’; 
Whereas annual reports of the European Union Fundamental 
Rights Agency (EUFRA) and both the 2009 and 2018 
European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
(EU–MIDIS I and II), the first European Union-wide 
surveys of ethnic minority and immigrant groups’ experi-
ences of discrimination and victimization in everyday life 
in the 28 member states of the European Union, found 
that persons of African descent experience high incidents 
of discriminatory treatment, racist crime, and victimiza-
tion, and lacked an awareness of their rights, often 
underreporting cases of hate crimes and other forms of 
discrimination to law enforcement and human rights 
agencies, and that the situation has not drastically im-
proved in the years between the two reports; 
Whereas, in November 2018, the European Union Funda-
mental Rights Agency (EUFRA) launched ‘‘Being Black 
in the EU: Second European Union Minorities and Dis-
crimination Survey’’, and called for member states to de-
velop specific solutions and guidance to address findings 
that 30 percent of respondents had been racially har-
assed, 5 percent physically attacked, 25 percent discrimi-
nated against at work or when looking for work, up to 
76 percent faced unemployment in some countries, and 
were experiencing high rates of discrimination in housing 
and in the justice system, including profiling by law en-
forcement; 
Whereas the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human 
Rights’ (OSCE/ODIHR) most recent 2017 hate crimes 
report found more than 1,608 racist and xenophobic inci-
dents, including a number targeting Black Europeans, 
while OSCE reports in previous years found a number of 
deaths and violent assaults against people of African ori-
gin, and that persons of African descent are often targets 
of racist and antimigrant violence, especially in Eastern 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
Europe, yet in many countries hate crimes are under-
reported and, legal assistance and financial support for 
victims while recovering from violent attacks does not 
exist; 
Whereas prejudice and discrimination toward Black Euro-
peans has also been linked to changes in immigration and 
asylum laws as a result of antiterrorism initiatives and 
the growth and mainstreaming of nationalist and anti-im-
migrant political parties and groups, including neo-Nazis 
and skinheads; 
Whereas the Open Society Justice Initiative in an initial 
2009 report, entitled ‘‘Ethnic Profiling in the European 
Union’’, and subsequent reports have found that police 
officers in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, 
and the Netherlands routinely use racial profiling, includ-
ing targeting African descendants, when deciding whom 
to target for stops, searches, raids, and surveillance, lead-
ing to some of the first Europeanwide grassroots and 
legal efforts to end racial profiling in France, Germany, 
and elsewhere in Europe, and over a decade of pan-Euro-
pean antiracism and empowerment initiatives supported 
by Open Society Foundations; 
Whereas there have been numerous efforts by the public and 
private sector to address racial discrimination and in-
equality in Europe, including the introduction of anti-
discrimination and equality laws that include the legal 
support for special measures or positive (affirmative) ac-
tion, creation of equality bodies, media campaigns, and 
efforts to increase minority political participation, and 
campaigns to end the use of stereotypes and derogatory 
terms to refer to Blacks in everyday language, the media, 
and textbooks; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
Whereas these efforts include the United Nations designation 
of 2011 as the International Year for People of African 
Descent and 2015–2024 the International Decade for 
People of African Descent in an effort to strengthen na-
tional actions to ensure that people of African descent 
enjoy economic, cultural, social, civil, and political rights, 
as well as promote a greater knowledge of and respect for 
their diverse heritage and culture; 
Whereas these efforts also include the OSCE Parliamentary 
Assembly’s (PA) adoption of Resolutions: ‘‘A Call for 
OSCE Action to Address Violence and Discrimination’’ in 
2016, ‘‘Addressing Racism and Xenophobia Affecting 
People of African Descent in the OSCE Region’’ in 2012, 
and ‘‘Strengthening Efforts to Combat Racism and Xen-
ophobia and Foster Inclusion’’ in 2011 that included rec-
ognition of the International Year for People of African 
Descent, and calling for the OSCE to implement several 
strategic initiatives to address racial and ethnic discrimi-
nation in the OSCE region; 
Whereas, in 2011, OSCE/ODIHR held its first ‘‘Roundtable 
on the contemporary forms of racism and xenophobia af-
fecting Peoples of African Descent in the OSCE region’’, 
and has since annually hosted antidiscrimination initia-
tives focused on People of African Descent including fo-
cused on hate crimes, women, political participation, 
strengthening civil society, and other issues; 
Whereas these efforts also include transatlantic meetings of 
Black and other diverse legislators held annually at the 
European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, and in the 
United States Congress in Washington, DC, including 
the April 17–19, 2009, ‘‘Black European Summit: Trans-
atlantic Dialogue on Political Participation’’ and adoption 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
of the Brussels Declaration on political participation; and 
subsequent ‘‘Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership 
Conferences’’; 
Whereas, as part of the March 24, 2011, Transatlantic Mi-
nority Political Leadership Conference (TMPLC), legisla-
tors and minority leaders from North America and Eu-
rope held a Parliamentary Forum at the European Par-
liament in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss a ‘‘Joint Action 
Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality and Inclusion’’ be-
tween the European Union and United States; 
Whereas, in 2011, Members of the Transatlantic Minority 
Political Leadership Conference worked in partnership 
with the German Marshall Fund, the Department of 
State, and other stakeholders to found the Transatlantic 
Inclusion Leaders Network (TILN) to increase diverse 
representation in policymaking; 
Whereas, in October 2013, European Parliamentarians in 
partnership with the European Network Against Racism 
(ENAR) held ‘‘(In)visible Diversity’’ a series of debates 
in the European Parliament, including a debate entitled, 
‘‘People of African Descent and Black Europeans: Reali-
ties of Afrophobia’’ and in 2015 released the first pan- 
European policy guide reviewing the current situation en-
titled, ‘‘ENAR Anti-Racism in Focus 2 - InvisibleVisible 
Minority: Confronting Afrophobia and Advancing Equal-
ity for People of African Descent and Black Europeans 
in Europe’’; 
Whereas, in January 2017, the European Network Against 
Racism published, ‘‘Towards an EU Framework for Na-
tional Strategies to Combat Afrophobia and Promote In-
clusion of People of African Descent and Black Euro-
peans’’ to urge EU member states to adopt ‘‘strong and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
specific policies to address Afrophobia, including its 
structural dimensions and impact on economic and social 
outcomes for people of African descent and Black Euro-
peans, including in employment, housing, education, 
health, political participation, criminal justice and other 
sectors’’; 
Whereas, on July 25, 2017, the Council of Europe Commis-
sioner for Human Rights stated, ‘‘The position of Black 
people in Europe needs to be strengthened, irrespective 
of whether it concerns recent migrants from Africa or al-
ready established Black communities [. . .] European 
states must first come to terms with their own past [in-
cluding] publicly acknowledge that slavery, the slave 
trade and colonialism are among the major sources of 
current discrimination against Black people.’’, and rec-
ommended European states implement strategies across 
health, education, justice, employment, and other sectors; 
Whereas, in October 2017, the United Kingdom Prime Min-
ister released the Race Disparity Audit ‘‘examin[ing] how 
people of different backgrounds are treated across areas 
including health, education, employment and the criminal 
justice system’’, which found inequalities in education, 
housing, income and employment, justice, and health be-
tween persons of African and Caribbean background and 
others, and has since published the findings online, ap-
pointed a Special Advisor, created a Race Disparity Advi-
sory Group, and announced 90 million British pounds to 
implement strategies to address disparities found by the 
audit; 
Whereas, in 2018, Polish Sejm member Killion Munyama, 
Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council 
of Europe Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimina-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
tion authored measures that were adopted on ‘‘Promoting 
diversity and equality in politics’’ that identified chal-
lenges to political participation faced by visible minorities 
and due to skin color; 
Whereas, on May 13 through 17, 2018, the European Par-
liament and European Economic and Social Committee, 
under the leadership of European Parliamentarian Cecile 
Kyenge of Italy, hosted the inaugural People of African 
Descent Week (PAD Week) in Brussels, Belgium, in 
partnership with the European Parliament Anti-Racism 
and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI), Transatlantic Minority 
Political Leadership Conference (TMPLC), Each One 
Teach One (EOTO), the European Network Against Rac-
ism (ENAR), and supported by congressional Members of 
the United States Helsinki Commission; 
Whereas PAD Week featured over a hundred experts, activ-
ists, and policymakers to increase awareness of people of 
African descent living in Europe and to discuss solutions 
to address the racial discrimination and violence they 
face; 
Whereas Member of the European Parliament Cecile Kyenge 
stated, ‘‘In addition to honouring the history and con-
tribution of Europe’s Black population, the People of Af-
rican Descent Week reaffirms European values by devel-
oping strategic and coherent responses to make our soci-
ety more inclusive in the face of rising racial prejudice 
and violence across Europe.’’; 
Whereas PAD Week final recommendations call on European 
Union institutions and national governments to specifi-
cally adopt a set of initiatives for Black Europeans, in-
cluding— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
(1) recognize past injustices and contributions; 
adopt a European Black History Month and Remem-
brance Day for Victims of Colonialism and Enslavement; 
(2) fund Black European led initiatives to address 
continuing disparities and discrimination, and support 
empowerment initiatives through the creation of cau-
cuses, civil society funds, and fellowships; 
(3) adopt a Parliamentary Resolution and EU 
Framework for National Strategies for Inclusion of Peo-
ple of African Descent in Europe; and 
(4) support transatlantic exchanges to support com-
mon solutions to common issues of racial prejudice and 
discrimination; and 
Whereas in addition to EU institutions affiliated with PAD 
Week, international entities, such as the OSCE Personal 
Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and 
Discrimination and OSCE/ODIHR Tolerance and Non- 
Discrimination Unit, EUFRA, the COE Human Rights 
Commissioner and ECRI, and the United Nations Com-
mittee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Spe-
cial Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, 
Independent Expert on Minority Issues, and Experts 
Working Group on People of African Descent, have docu-
mented ongoing racism and xenophobia, and racial and 
ethnic discrimination, and called for an increase in initia-
tives to combat racism and inequality and foster inclu-
sion: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) encourages the recognition and celebration 
of the collective history and achievements made by 
people of African descent; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
(2) reaffirms the importance of inclusion and 
the full and equal participation of people of African 
descent around the world in all aspects of political, 
economic, social, and cultural life; 
(3) recognizes that, as a result of their skin 
color and ancestry, many Black Europeans have 
wrongfully experienced injustices in the public and 
private sector; 
(4) welcomes parliamentary activities, including 
those of the European Parliament (EP), Organiza-
tion for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, Parliamentary As-
sembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and 
United States Congress, to engage in efforts to pro-
mote racial equality and combat racial discrimina-
tion through efforts such as introducing legislation, 
speaking out against racism, increasing the political 
participation of diverse populations through initia-
tives such as the Transatlantic Minority Political 
Leadership Conference and Transatlantic Inclusion 
Leaders Network, and working with Black European 
and other diverse communities to develop relevant 
policies; 
(5) urges European governments and members 
of civil society and the private sector, in consultation 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
with Black European communities, to develop and 
implement initiatives to combat racial discrimination 
and promote racial equality and inclusion in Europe, 
by— 
(A) drafting and implementing an EU 
Framework for National Strategies to Promote 
Inclusion of and Combat Discrimination to-
wards People of African Descent and Black Eu-
ropeans; 
(B) drafting and implementing anti-dis-
crimination, special measures, hate crimes, mi-
gration and integration, inclusion, and other 
laws and policies to address discrimination and 
disparities and promote equality, noting the rec-
ommendations of the United Nations Com-
mittee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimina-
tion, the Experts Working Group on People of 
African Descent (WGPAD), the European 
Union Fundamental Rights Agency (EUFRA), 
the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Con-
temporary Forms of Racism and Independent 
Expert on Minority Issues, Council of Europe 
Human Rights Commissioner and European 
Commission against Racism and Intolerance 
(ECRI), and the OSCE Personal Representa-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
tive on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and 
Discrimination and OSCE/ODIHR Tolerance 
and Non-Discrimination Unit; 
(C) promoting and funding research, in-
cluding the collection of national census data on 
Black Europeans and its inclusion in the an-
nual reports of the EUFRA and other official 
reporting at the EU and national levels; 
(D) providing technical support, training, 
and funding to Black European civil society 
and private sector groups and experts working 
to combat racism, discrimination, and inequal-
ity, uphold basic human rights in Europe, and 
to increase economic opportunity and empower-
ment; 
(E) introducing national measures to 
counter stereotypical images of persons of Afri-
can descent, by revising textbooks, increasing 
efforts to include Black Europeans in history 
and heritage institutions, and remembering vic-
tims of colonialism, enslavement, and other 
atrocities; 
(F) developing or increasing financial sup-
port for funds to assist victims of hate crimes 
with legal assistance and compensation when 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
incapacitated due to physical or emotional inju-
ries; 
(G) developing specific initiatives that ad-
dress the special concerns of Black European 
men, women, and youth, including increasing 
initiatives related to migrants, refugees, and 
asylum seekers; 
(H) actively promoting racial and ethnic 
representation and participation at all levels of 
national, 
regional, 
and 
local 
government 
through the education of civil and political 
rights, including the legislative process and ad-
vocacy of legislative issues relevant to racial and 
ethnic communities, development of targeted 
professional advancement and hiring strategies, 
increased youth and community outreach, and 
self-organization and other empowerment initia-
tives; and 
(I) recruiting, training, hiring, and retain-
ing Black Europeans for professional positions 
in support of these initiatives; 
(6) urges the Secretary of State and Adminis-
trator of the United States Agency for International 
Development (USAID) to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 256 IH 
(A) provide technical assistance and other 
support for European governments and mem-
bers of the civil society and private sector to 
fulfill the initiatives described above, including 
by expanding United States Government efforts 
with the OSCE to increase the capacity of 
members of African Descent communities to ad-
dress discrimination; 
(B) increase support for the WGPAD and 
International Decade for People of African De-
scent; and 
(C) by establishing a Global Office of Afri-
can Descent Affairs within the Department of 
State headed by senior officials to develop and 
implement global foreign policy and assistance 
strategies to improve the situation of people of 
African descent around the world, create a De-
partment of State ‘‘Fund’’ to support anti-
discrimination and empowerment efforts by Af-
rican descent led civil society organizations 
around the world, and include a section on dis-
crimination faced by people of African descent 
in the Department of State’s Annual Country 
Reports Human Rights Practices, and working 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Mar 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR256.IH
HR256
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS