HRC57 - Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

57^th session

Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

3 October 2024

EU statement

Mr. Chair,

The European Union attended the third session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent with great attention. We took the opportunity to reaffirm our strong commitment to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, given that racial discrimination not only inflicts profound harm on individual victims, but also undermines the very fabric of peaceful and democratic societies.

Many of the issues discussed at the third session are close to our hearts. This includes investing in education, bridging skill gaps, alleviating poverty and empowering women, as well as ensuring equal access to employment, healthcare and housing, overcoming the digital divide and protecting cultural heritage. We pursue these priorities not only in our internal policies, but also externally, through partnerships we have with countries all over the world.

We furthermore underlined that we believe in the importance of reconciliation and reckoning with the past, that an essential part of any reconciliation process is to listen to those who have been affected, and that the Permanent Forum can play a role in this regard.

Mr. Chair, if we are to find concrete solutions that are acceptable to all, we will have to build a safe space to exchange views, answer questions, jointly develop solutions and take action, to allow all to come on board.

How do the members of the Permanent Forum intend to create this space?

Thank you.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.