Our Journey Thus Far
Dear MIPADians,
As we enter into the final years of the decade, here is a quick recap of our Journey Thus Far…
In 2015, the world celebrated when the UN declared the International Decade for People of African Descent to be observed 2015-2024.
In 2017 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) emerged as an organization recognizing leading voices of African descent worldwide in support of the decade.
By 2020 MIPAD had recognized over 500 high achievers of African descent as honorees across 4 categories; Politics & Governance, Business & Entrepreneurship, Media & Culture, Humanitarian & Activism. The aim is to curate a diverse ecosystem with influential people of African descent and allies working together in each country in support of the decade.
The big idea is to mobilize relevant actors to join together in the spirit of recognition, justice, and development in each country to lobby their governments to create a national plan to implement the UN resolution that declared the decade.
The year 2021 marks the midterm review of the decade and reported progress is slow and in some countries non-existent;
# __ of 193 UN Member States that have officially recognized the decade (less than 30)
# __ of 193 UN Member States have a National Plan for Implementation of the Decade (less than 10)
# __ of 54 African Countries have officially recognized the decade (less than 5)
Before the end of the decade in 2024, we as people of African descent and the global community must work together to ensure the following;
– Establish a Treaty of Unity amongst people of African Descent Worldwide to work together in solidarity amongst the common threat to our existence.
-Achieve tangible legislative & enforcement wins in the Member States with the largest populations of African descendants which are;
- Brazil
- United States
- Haiti
- Colombia
- France
- Yemen
- Saudi Arabia
- Jamaica
- United Kingdom
- Mexico
- Canada
For progress as reported by the United Nations, please visit https://www.un.org/en/observances/decade-people-african-descent/actions-taken
Notable Achievements
1. Establishment of Permanent Forum
UN General Assembly passed the resolution for the establishment of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent;
View Historical Session: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1v/k1vc544gm9
Download Resolution: https://undocs.org/en/A/75/L.119/Rev.1
2.Declaration of 31 August as International Day for People of African Descent will be celebrated for the first time in history in 2021. Through this Observance, the United Nations aims to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora around the world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/african-descent-day
