This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.
Today’s Article is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
Human rights movements must unite to dismantle the racial barriers that continue dividing societies more than a century after the phrase “color line” first entered the global lexicon, a senior UN official told the Human Rights Council on Wednesday.
Martin Kimani, chairperson of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, presented the forum’s annual report during an interactive dialogue with country representatives, warning that systemic racism remains deeply embedded in modern institutions despite decades of progress.
“Every year, events captured in news headlines and in the lived experiences of people of African descent tragically confirm that even at this stage of the 21st century, the colour line remains in place, creating a hierarchical divide that sustains segregation, violence, societal division, denial of equal opportunity, of equity, and of continued exploitation and multiple forms of oppression,” Kimani said.
The presentation comes as the international community enters the second year of the International Decade for People of African Descent, launched in January. The Permanent Forum sees the decade “as a period enabling the reinforcement of global solidarity that advances concrete progress,” according to Kimani.
Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.
Your subscription to Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromises. Just honest journalism when we need it most.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.
New Threats in Digital Age
The forum highlighted emerging concerns that weren’t priorities during the first International Decade, including how artificial intelligence systems perpetuate racial bias. During its April session in New York, the forum examined how digital technologies risk amplifying existing inequalities.
“AI and digital technologies cannot be disconnected from the broader historical and contemporary injustices that shape them,” Kimani told the council.
The forum’s conclusions reflected concern over racial biases embedded in AI systems while acknowledging technology’s potential benefits. “The Forum emphasised that the pursuit of reparatory justice remains urgent in this digital age, as systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated and amplified in emerging technologies,” he said.
Focus on Women, Haiti Crisis
The annual session examined how women and girls of African descent face compounding discrimination. Kimani traced the problem to slavery’s origins.
“The dehumanization of African women from the onset of enslavement set the tone for the continued devaluation and discrimination they face to this day,” he said. “The goals of development cannot be achieved without reparatory measures that explicitly address their realities.”
The forum singled out Haiti’s ongoing crisis as rooted in colonialism’s legacy. After winning independence from France in 1804 through a successful slave revolution, Haiti was forced to pay 150 million francs in compensation for lost property.
The Permanent Forum published recommendations calling for acknowledgment of Haiti’s “independence debt” and a reparatory justice framework. Kimani urged the council to “consider the crisis in Haiti in that light.”
Five-Pillar Justice Framework
The forum’s push for reparatory justice encompasses five areas: restitution of legal rights or property; compensation for physical or mental harm; satisfaction through truth disclosure and public apology; rehabilitation; and guarantees of non-repetition.
The forum has called for action around three main pillars: recognition of systemic racism, pursuit of reparatory justice, and inclusion of people of African descent in development frameworks.
“Human rights movements, including anti-racist movements, need to unite more than ever and act, to ensure that the promise of multiple resolutions of the United Nations, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, is realised,” Kimani said.
The second International Decade for People of African Descent runs through 2034.
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
As well as knowing you’re keeping Mencari (Australia) alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting The Evening Post (Australia)
Catch up on some of Mencari’s recent stories:
It only takes a minute to help us investigate fearlessly and expose lies and wrongdoing to hold power accountable. Thanks!