UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — The United Nations has kicked off the International Decade of People of African Decent, saying those of African origin, including many in the Caribbean, still face racism in every country, region and continent of the world.

“Over the next 10 years, people everywhere are encouraged to take part in the global conversation on the realities faced by people of African descent,” United Nations General Assembly President Sam Kutesa, a national of Uganda, told the General Assembly on Wednesday calling the decade’s launch a historic achievement.

“The Decade will allow us to explore the challenges faced by people of African descent due to pervasive racism and racial discrimination engrained in our society today,” he added.

On December 23, 2013, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming the International Decade for People of African Descent, commencing on January 1, 2015 and ending on December 31, 2024 with the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”

Joining Kutesa at the UN Headquarters event in New York was UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Guyanese-born Valerie Amos, who spoke on behalf of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The UN said “this Decade is an opportunity for a wide range of actors including the United Nations, Governments, civil society and individuals to create synergy in efforts to combat racism and contribute to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted at the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.”

Kutesa said that it is important to ensure the protection of the human rights of all people African descent.

He said effective actions at the national and regional levels contribute toward tangible improvements in the lives of millions of people of African descent around the world.

On justice, he said that people of African descent are “too often” victims of crime and violence, while facing discrimination in their attempts to seek legal redress, adding that” in many societies the problem is endemic.”

On development, he said the international community has come to recognise the correlation.

The UN said the 10-year span will be “an opportunity to call for the adoption of anti-discrimination laws and ensure justice by fighting against impunity in regard to racial profiling and guarantee the equal protection of the law.”

It said Decade activities will also promote the right to development and equal access to education, health, as well as employment.