The Global Black Collective Institute participates in civil society consultation with President of the United Nations Human Rights Council

On Thursday February 10, 2022, the Global Black Collective Institute joined People of African Descent from around the globe in a virtual civil society consultation with His Excellency, Federico Villegas, President of the United Nations Human Rights Council, regarding the selection of the five expert members of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD). Please take a moment to read our follow-up letter to His Excellency, President Villegas, and Mr. Yury Boychenko, Chief, Anti-Racial Discrimination Section, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):

Dear President of the Human Rights Council, His Excellency, Federico Villegas,
Dear Yury Boychenko, Chief, Anti-Racial Discrimination Section, OHCHR,

We, the Global Black Collective Institute - GBCI (a non-governmental organization founded by a few of the 2020 UN Human Rights Fellows for People of African Descent), like the other civil society organizations of African descent across the world, appreciate that you have met with us on February 10, 2022, to listen to our concerns and gather our recommendations about the selection of the five expert members of the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent.

The GBCI concurs with most of the constructive feedback and suggestions provided by the civil societies, particularly the election criteria and qualifications. We strongly believe the success of the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent (PFPAD) will largely depend on how effectively it engages with civil society and organizations of African descent. The GBCI would like to emphasize on the importance of having five non-governmental members who have demonstrated experience in actively advocating for the betterment of people of African descent in terms of activism, policy and legislative changes. It is crucial that those who will hold this significant role and will ultimately hear the grievances and human rights concerns of civil society, have the experience and work history in understanding the legacy of slavery, colonization and internally displacement.

Moreover, it should be strongly considered that the five expert members have demonstrated commitment in advancing the human rights of People of African Descent living within multiple intersectional identities facing human rights violations, such as people living with a disability and or chronic illness; prisoners, members of the LBTQ+ gender diverse persons; migrants, refugees, internally displaced and stateless persons.

In our humble perspective, the current experts from the African continent do not adequately represent the continent. They unfortunately do not appear to have demonstrated experience in advocating for the human rights of People of African descent nor have any experience with the unique reality of francophone Africans.

Thank you again for hosting this important civil society consultation and we look forward to your decision on the candidates and future engagement with the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent.

Sincerely,
Hodan A. Mohamed, MA, Labour Equity Advocate, DEI expert, Canada
Ikram Warsame, J.D., Human Rights Lawyer, Canada
London J. Bell, J.D., LL.M. Human Rights Lawyer, the United States of America

Here is more information on the U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent