About the Working Group

Competence

On December 23, 2013, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) proclaimed the decade 2015 to 2024 as the International Decade of Persons of African Descent under the slogan "People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development" via Resolution AG/RES/68/237. In that document, they stated the need to strengthen national, regional and international cooperation with regard to the full enjoyment of social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights of Afro-descendants, and their full participation in all aspects of life in their societies. For its part, on June 4, 2014, the General Assembly of the OAS, through Resolution AG/RES 2824 also recognized the International Decade of Persons of African Descent.

In this context, the OAS held a Special Session of the Permanent Council on April 22, 2015, where Member States discussed the importance of addressing the challenges of people of African descent in the region, recognized the importance of celebrating their contributions and expressed the importance of developing a Plan of Action for the Decade for the specific context of Latin America and the Caribbean[3]. Within the framework of the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs on May 11, 2015, the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the OAS presented a proposal for the creation of a "Working Group for the Preparation of a Plan of Action for the Americas for the Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent[4]." After discussions within the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs (CAJP) at its meeting on 19 November 2015, the establishment of a Group work to elaborate a Plan of Action (Regional) to commemorate the International Decade of persons of African descent (2015-2024) was approved by acclamation.


[3] For further information, visit “OAS Permanent Council Celebrated the Launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent” available at https:// www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-144/15

The Secretary of this Working Group is Amparo Trujillo