Message of the Secretary-General on the International Day for People of African Descent, 2026

Today we recognize the enormous contributions of people of African descent across politics, government, science, the arts, culture, innovation, sports, business and so much more.  

We also recall the work still to be done towards ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights, equality and opportunity by people of African descent. 

In some countries, progress is being rolled back. False narratives that minimize lived realities and erase the history of people of African descent are on the rise once again. And the deep, stubborn roots of white supremacist thinking can still be found in systemic racism, societal inequality, hate speech and the digital divide.

We must continue our fight to right these wrongs by acknowledging the historical facts and enduring repercussions of colonialism and slavery, in particular the transatlantic slave trade. And we must remove the persistent barriers preventing so many people of African descent from exercising their rights and realizing their potential. 

Calls for reparatory justice and addressing historical wrongs are increasingly being heard — including through the recent General Assembly resolution on this issue. The second International Decade for People of African Descent is a further opportunity to drive meaningful progress. 

On this important day, let’s re-affirm our collective commitment to dismantling systemic racism and achieving equality, justice and transformative change in the daily lives of people of African descent everywhere. 

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