United Nations International Decades for People of African Descent

The United Nations International Decades for People of African Descent are a global call to action to address issues impacting people of African descent in the areas of recognition, justice, and development. In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared January 2015 to December 2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent (the Decade). In December 2024, the United Nations adopted a second Decade, which will span from January 2025 to December 2034. The Decades recognize that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

How we are taking action

On January 30, 2018, the Government of Canada endorsed the Decade in Canada. We committed to learn more about issues of Black communities in Canada, which included improving research and data collection. As such, we announced several commitments to address the needs of Black communities across Canada. This included working with community organizations to advance positive change.

In December 2024, Canada co-sponsored the United Nations' resolution for a second Decade. The second Decade will serve as an opportunity to further Canada's efforts to empower people of African descent, combat anti-Black racism, and continue addressing longstanding and systemic barriers to the social and economic inclusion of Black communities.

Funding Programs

Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative - To support projects that help Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving (B3) charities and non-profits build their organizational capacity to address social and economic inequities
Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund - Provides sustainable funding to Black charities and non-profits to fight anti-Black racism and improve social and economic outcomes
Black Entrepreneurship Program - To help Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future
Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund - To support Black Canadians to develop more culturally focused knowledge, capacity and programs to improve mental health in their communities
Canada's Black Justice Strategy - To address the anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination that has resulted in the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system, including as victims and survivors of crime
Black Scholars Initiative - Scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to support Black undergraduate and graduate students, and Black postdoctoral researchers
National Housing Strategy - Under the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the strategy sets a long-term vision to improve housing outcomes for those in greatest need. This includes investments to support housing for Black Canadians through the Affordable Housing Fund to enhance the supply of affordable housing for Black renters. CMHC has also partnered with Habitat for Humanity and Black North Initiative to help deliver an estimated 400 affordable homes for Black Canadians
Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program - To support diverse youth become job-ready through work experience, training, skills development and wraparound supports that allow them to successfully transition into diverse sectors of the labour market
Local Food Infrastructure Fund - To support projects that strengthen community food security and increase the availability and accessibility of local, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food through food production-focused activities for equity-deserving groups, particularly Indigenous and Black communities

Recognition and Celebration of Black Communities

Africville - In October 2024, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and Africville Heritage Trust announced that Africville was designated as Canada's first UNESCO Place of History and Memory linked to Enslavement and the Slave Trade. The documented presence of Africans in Mi'kma'ki, currently known as Nova Scotia, dates back to the 1600s
Emancipation Day - In March 2021, the House of Commons voted to designate August 1 as Emancipation Day. It marks the actual day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire. Therefore, each August 1, we invite Canadians to reflect, educate, and engage in the ongoing fight against racism and discrimination
The Government has recognized over 40 people, places, and events of national historic significance. This purpose was to reflect the importance of Black communities to Canada's shared heritage. These include:
- in July 2020:
  - the Enslavement of African People in Canada (1629 to 1834)
  - Black Loyalist Richard Pierpoint (1744 to 1838)
  - West Indian Domestic Scheme (1955 to 1967)
  - heavyweight bLarry Gains (1900 to 1983)
- in April 2021, the Government of Canada Invested in African Canadian History Education
- in May 2022, Olivier Le Jeune was named as a person of national historic significance under the National Program of Historical Commemoration. The Government has also recognized other key Black figures such as Mary Ann Shadd, Chloe Cooley, and John Ware
- in July 2022, the Government of Canada delivered an apology for the systemic anti-Black racism that members of No.2 Construction Battalion endured before, during, and after the First World War
- in June 2023, the Black Migrations to Sierra Leone was recognized for its national historic significance (1792 and 1800)
Black History Month - Canada honours people of African descent and their role in Canadian history and society through its annual Black History Month campaign

Consultations

The Steering Group for Canada's Black Justice Strategy was established to ensure that the development of Canada's Black Justice Strategy is informed by experts and leaders from Black communities across Canada, with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and with expertise related to Canada's criminal justice system. The Strategy aims to help Black people access equal treatment and protection before the law in Canada. The resulting Report and Framework were published in July 2024
The External Reference Group is an advisory group of leaders from Black communities in various sectors, that provide advice to relevant Ministers to support:
- meaningful implementation of the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative
- the Government's commitments to the Decade
The Advisory Committee to Address Anti-Black Racism in Research and Research Training issued a report in 2023 about improving supports and increasing opportunities for Black researchers. This led to further consultations with Black researchers, which led to the SSHRC Action Plan for Black Researchers (2024-2029). The Action Plan aims to ensure equitable and representative access to SSHRC funding
The Mental Health of Black Canadians Working Group informed the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) delivery of the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund

International engagement

In August 2021, the United Nations General Assembly approved the operation of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent as a:

consulting mechanism for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders
platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent

The Permanent Forum hosts annual sessions that bring together human rights activists, experts, civil society representatives, and government officials. The objectives of these sessions are to raise awareness, share best practices and propose solutions about historical injustices and ongoing discrimination faced by people of African descent, such as:

racial discrimination
xenophobia
justice
economic opportunities
healthcare
education
political participation

The first session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent took place from December 5 to 8, 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland. It brought together human rights activists of African descent plus representatives and stakeholders from Member States and various international organizations. The final report for the first session is available on the website of the United Nations Human Rights office of the High Commissioner.

The second session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent took place from May 30 to June 2, 2023, in New York, USA. During this session, government representatives, civil society organizations, and individuals discussed and developed strategies to combat racial discrimination, inequality and promote social justice.

The third session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent took place from April 16 to 19, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. The final report for the third session is available on the website of the United Nations Human Rights office of the High Commissioner.

The fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent took place from April 14 to 17, 2025, in New York, USA. The final report for the fourth session is available on the website of the United Nations Human Rights office of the High Commissioner.

The fifth session of the Permanent Forum on People of Africa Descent took place from April 14 to 17, 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Canada's role

Canada has played an active role in international efforts to combat racism and create equality for all people of African descent. We:

supported the UN General Resolution that created the Permanent Forum back in 2021
co-sponsored the International Day of People of African Descent, adopted in 2020
participated in all sessions of the United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent (2022, 2023 , 2024, 2025 and 2026)
co-sponsored the proposal for a second International Decade for People of African Descent, adopted in 2024

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2026-09-04

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