Celebrating International Day for People of African Descent 2023

The International Day for People of African Descent, observed on 31 August, is an opportunity to acknowledge the important contribution people of African descent make to the rich fabric of our societies.

 

The International Day for People of African Descent reminds us of the resilience and determination of individuals of African descent in their pursuit of fundamental human rights. 

We are reminded of the historical achievements and ongoing struggles faced by people of African descent, coming as it does during the Decade for People of African Descent.

In the Americas alone, there are more than 200 million people identifying as of African descent. Millions more are dispersed globally, 

Facing challenges

People of African descent often face the challenges of poverty and marginalisation. Yet their stories testify to the rich multicultural heritage they nurture, as well as their notable contributions across various fields.

In this, the year we mark the75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for unity and collaboration strikes us more urgently than ever before. 

Significant contributions

To celebrate the significant contributions made by people of African descent, we present a powerful video featuring Garífuna women and women of African descent produced by the EU Election Observation Mission in Guatemala.

Watch: Gloria Núñez tells us why she started an online school

In this video we meet Gloria Núñez, founder of an online school for women of African descent coming from various Central American countries. Based in her city of Livingston, Guatemala, she established the school to raise political awareness.

Remote video URL