By Ashlee BanksSpecial to the AFRO
U.S. Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37) are celebrating a big milestone within the world struggle for racial fairness and justice. The United Nations Normal Meeting has formally adopted a decision establishing a second Decade for Folks of African Descent. This new decade will run from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2034, and has garnered co-sponsorship from 87 United Nations Member States, reflecting a broad and united worldwide dedication to addressing the systemic challenges confronted by individuals of African descent worldwide.
Each Johnson and Kamlager-Dove launched the decision on Nov. 20. Their decision referred to as for the institution of a second UN-designated Worldwide Decade for Folks of African Descent and urged complete measures to fight racism and promote inclusion at each nationwide and worldwide ranges.
Congressman Johnson expressed his pleasure within the decision’s passage.
“The United Nations’ proclamation of a second Decade for Folks of African Descent is a monumental step towards justice and fairness. It displays our shared duty to deal with systemic inequities and uplift the contributions of individuals of African descent globally,” Johnson mentioned in a press release.
“I’m proud to guide this effort and grateful for the worldwide group’s help,” the Georgia lawmaker continued.
Rep. Kamlager-Dove echoed Johnson’s sentiments, emphasizing the significance of the UN’s adoption of the decision.
“I’m proud that the UN adopted a decision to determine a second ‘Worldwide Decade for Folks of African Descent,’ which Consultant Hank Johnson and I referred to as for in Congress final month,” the California lawmaker mentioned in a press release.
“With this declaration, the UN has renewed a worldwide dedication to individuals of African descent. The USA should uphold this promise by serving to to pursue justice, guarantee sustainable improvement, and handle systemic and structural racism for Afro-descendants right here at dwelling and internationally,” she continued.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.-12) additional underscored the historic significance of this decision and highlighted the ethical crucial of selling the contributions of the African diaspora.
“This decision establishing the Second Decade for Folks of African Descent is really historic; it displays our shared values that each one human beings are born free with equal dignity and rights,” Lee famous in a press release.
“We’ve an ethical duty to advertise the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora and to spotlight the continued struggle for racial fairness. This decision reaffirms our help for progress in implementing insurance policies that handle the historical past of institutional racism,” she added.
Advocates for racial justice are additionally optimistic in regards to the potential affect of the Second Decade.
Gimena Sanchez, director for the Andes on the Washington Workplace on Latin America (WOLA), mentioned in a press release that she and her colleagues will work with Johnson and Kamlager-Dove to “advance this agenda.”
“This can be a new alternative to really advance racial justice, reparations, defend African-based spiritualities, enhance world political participation of Afro-descendants, and handle the precise rights of ladies, LGBTQ people, kids, and migrants,” Sanchez mentioned in a press release.
The decision drew help from a number of key cosponsors, together with Reps. James P. McGovern (D-Mass.-2), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.-5), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.-5), Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.-24), and Delia C. Ramirez (D-Sick.-3).
The institution of the Second Decade for Folks of African Descent presents a chance for nations worldwide to reaffirm their dedication to combating racism and fostering inclusion. It serves as a reminder that the struggle for equality and justice continues, calling for collective motion in any respect ranges of society. Because the world prepares for this new chapter, the hope is that it’ll result in tangible enhancements within the lives of thousands and thousands of individuals of African descent, selling dignity, respect and equal rights for all.
