International Decade for People of African Descent

The **International Decade for People of African Descent**, 2015–2024, UN General Assembly declare am through Resolution 68/237 wey dem adopt on 23rd December, 2013. Di theme for di International Decade be: *"People wey get African blood: make we recognize them, give them justice, and help them develop*

On 17th December 2024, United Nations come declare say dem go start Second International Decade for People wey get African blood, beginning from 1st January 2025, Dem talk say e go be one big chance to do real action wey go face the bad history of slavery and colonialism, give justice to repair the damage, and make sure people wey get African blood get full human rights and freedom everywhere for the world.." 

## Stated objectives
Dem say the goals for di International Decade for People wey get African blood be:

* Make people wey get African blood enjoy full human rights and freedom, as e dey inside Universal Declaration of Human Rights — respect, protect, and make sure dem get am without wahala.
* Help people sabi and respect the different kind heritage, culture, and the big big contribution people of African descent don make to build society.
* Make dem adopt and make strong the national, regional, and international law systems, as e dey inside the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and also the International Convention wey dey fight against all kinds of racial discrimination and make sure say these laws dey work well-well everywhere.

## Di Second International Decade for People wey get African blood.
After United Nations talk on 17th December 2024 say dem go start di Second International Decade for People wey get African blood from 1st January 2025, di Chairperson of CARICOM, Mia Mottley wey be Prime Minister of Barbados, come talk say: Dis achievement show say our Region no tire for fight, plus all the progress wey we make during the first decade. E include how the world don recognize our ten-point plan for justice to repair past wrongs, and also the way United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent. ... We for continue dey push di international people make dem sit up and talk face-to-face like matured minds, for every level. So we go fit see dem take real steps repair di damage wey slavery and colonialism — dem immoral system — cause our people. Prof. Sir Hilary Beckles, wey be Chairperson for CARICOM Reparations Commission, talk say:  "I dey happy say United Nations dey observe this Second International Decade for People wey get African blood, to keep attention steady on how African people go move forward. This be big achievement wey come from the serious efforts of civil society and government people for Americas and Africa.

## Background
The beginning of the International Decade for People wey get African blood start from 2001, during di third World Conference wey fight against racism. From there, dem adopt the Durban Declaration plus Programme of Action. The Durban Declaration talk say African people suffer from slavery, and dem still dey suffer from the effect even today. Di Declaration call countries make dem take proper steps fight racism and xenophobia, and protect the people wey dey suffer from am. Ten years later, during the International Year for People wey get African blood, UN talk say make these efforts go even stronger. Then two years after that, for December 2013, UN decide say 1st January 2015 go mark the start of the International Decade for People wey get African blood.

When dem launch am, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Flavia Pansieri, talk say:Di road to a world wey racism, bias and stigma no dey, no be smooth one. To fight racial discrimination go take long time — e need serious commitment and steady effort. People wey get African blood need encouragement and support. Every country get moral and legal responsibility to give strong political and financial support, make dis Decade work well, and help continue di journey to build equal and fair societies.

## Activity within different nations

### Accompong
For 2017, di Accompong Maroons start one project wey dem call Door of Return Initiative, together with Ghana and Nigeria,Na for this project Nigeria first show one symbolic monument during their Diaspora Festival wey happen for Badagry. Dis project dey plan put monuments across Africa to show say Africa open to welcome di Diaspora people. E also dey aim to bring new investment come di continent, especially for tourism and development wey go last long like infrastructure.

### Canada
On 30th January 2018, di Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announce say Canada government go officially recognize di International Decade for People wey get African blood. E be like say na him be the first government official for North America wey stand up and talk clear say his government go support this initiative.

For 2018, Canada government talk say dem go give $9 million over three years to di Department of Canadian Heritage, make dem support Black Canadian youth for their communities. Dem also promise another $10 million over five years to Canada Public Health Agency, to carry out research wey go support better mental health programs wey match Black Canadian culture. Altogether, di support na $19 million. For 2019, Canada government promise say dem go give extra $25 million over five years to Employment and Skills Development Canada. Di money go support projects and provide help for buildings and equipment, to celebrate, share knowledge, and build strength inside Black Canadian communities. E be like say Canada government na the first western government wey put several million dollars down to better the life of people wey get African blood, right inside dem own country.

For 2018, Bank of Canada release new $10 note wey carry di face of Viola Desmond — one Black Nova Scotian businesswoman wey stand against racial segregation for one cinema inside New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, for 1946. Di Bank of Canada website talk say her court case be inspiration for di fight for racial equality across Canada. Viola her story dey as part of di permanent collection for di Canadian Museum for Human Rights.".Viola her bold action happen nine years before Rosa Parks refuse to leave her seat for bus inside Alabama.

For di end of January 2020, Canada Post release one stamp to honor di Colored Hockey League,Di Colored Hockey League start 22 years before di National Hockey League (NHL begin). Di stamp show pictures of players from di Colored Hockey League wey run from 1895 go reach di 1930s. E list some of di sweet names of di teams — Jubilees, Stanleys, Eurekas, Sea-Sides, Rangers, Royals, and Moss Backs. Plenty of di players na sons and grandsons of people wey run from slavery for U.S. come find freedom for Canada."

### Costa Rica
On 24th January 2020, Costa Rica government join body with UNESCO to celebrate World Day of African and Afrodescendant Culture for the first time.

### Ghana
In September 2018, President Nana Akufo-Addo dey try launched "Year of Return, Ghana 2019". Di plan for dis initiative na to encourage people wey get African blood make dem come Ghana to settle and invest not just for Ghana, but for di whole African continent. Plenty big names like Idris Elba, Boris Kodjoe, Naomi Campbell, Steve Harvey, Cardi B, T.I., Ludacris, Akon, Rosario Dawson, Diggy Simmons, Jidenna, and Nicole Ari Parker visit Ghana for di first Essence Full Circle Festival wey happen for 2019. Di initiative help tourism grow well, as Ghana give out 800,000 visas that year — mostly to people wey come from America, Europe, and other African countries..

### Jamaica
For 2019, Jamaica start dem observance of di International Decade for People wey get African blood. Di launch happen for Kingston, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness lead di ceremony.

### Mexico
For 2015, Mexico population survey show say about 1.38 million Mexicans  wey be around 1.2% of di whole country people talk say dem get African blood. Even though this one no be part of Mexico activities and policies for di International Decade for People wey get African blood, e still important make we mention am, because na di first time Afro-Mexican people get chance to say dem get African blood inside population survey.

### United States
For 2015, UN mark di start of di International Decade for People wey get African blood by unveiling one "Permanent Memorial for di Victims of Slavery and di Transatlantic Slave Trade" on 25th March, di day wey dem take remember di victims of slavery and di Transatlantic Slave Trade. Di memorial, wey dem call *The Ark of Return*, dey for UN Headquarters inside New York City. Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon design am — na him also design di African Burial Ground National Monument.

Even though this activity dey happen inside U.S., na UN project wey no be sponsored by United States government

### United Kingdom
Up till now, British government never get plan to mark di International Decade for People wey get African blood. Di official talk just mention UK’s normal anti-discrimination policy, but e no talk anything special about Africa or di African people wey dey live inside Britain.

## Social media
For December 2019, for di first time, five women wey get African blood win five of di biggest beauty pageant titles for di world at di same time. Dem be Toni-Ann Singh (Miss World), Zozibini Tunzi (Miss Universe), Cheslie Kryst (Miss USA), Kaliegh Garris (Miss Teen USA), and Nia Franklin (Miss America). Wetin stand out be say Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa na di first dark-skinned Black woman wey win di crown with her hair short, natural, and untouched by chemicals.
## References


## External links

* United Nations - International Decade for People of African Descent