Collaboration between APN-PAD and OHCHR on the Human Rights Situation of People of African Descent

APN-PAD in collaboration with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Office in Bangkok have organized the first ever subregional consultations on the human rights challenges and experience of Africans and People of African Descent in the Asia Pacific Region.

In preparation for the consultation process, APN-PAD worked with over 200 people of African Descent from Australia, China, Fiji, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan, Philippines and New Zealand, raising awareness for the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, and the need for the Asia Pacific Region to advocate for a second Decade.

APN-PAD in collaboration with OHCHR over a period of two weeks in August 2024 organised engaging consultations on the human rights situation of People of African Descent (PAD) . Sixty activists, community leaders, academics, leaders in industries, politicians, students, youths, journalists, social media influencers, traders of African descents were brought together in strategic online consultation meetings. These consultations were divided into four subregional meetings moderated by the co-founders of APN-PAD. Countries represented were Australia, China, Fiji, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, New Zealand.

Alando Chia co-founder and director of diversity and transnational strategic engagements moderated the Northeast Asia subregional consultation, Phillip Binondo co-founder and Southeast Asia program director moderated the Southeast Asia consultations, Dr. Samantha Sibanda co-founder and director of educational partnerships and Northeast Asia Program director moderated the South Asia consultation, and Dr. Juntina Ajala co-founder and director of international civil society, institutions and government partnerships moderated the Pacific consultation.

The identities of the participants are not disclosed due to the sensitivity of the issues discussed, the cultural context, and the need to protect the rights of and freedom of speech without fear of reprisals of participants. Co-founders Grace Williams, Lambang Fonye, Elizabeth Lang, Phoebe Mwanza, provided technical and outreach support.

A summary of the subregional consultations across the four subregions identified common transnational or regional challenges facing People of African Descent in the Asia Pacific region: Lack of representation in policy spaces, media misrepresentations and endemic stereotypes, crisis of identity of youths and children of African descent, limited access to decent housing and restricted employment opportunities, racism, overt and covert racial profiling by law enforcement and some businesses.

There were also some noticeable positive developments within the region: Rising awareness of the human rights and development situation of PAD, increasing collaboration between PAD civil societies in economic empowerment and raising awareness of the International Decade for People of African Descent, a growing body of academic research regarding PAD in the Asia Pacific, improving knowledge of national, regional, and United Nations human rights, economic frameworks and mechanisms on the rights of PAD, and the formation of the Asia Pacific Network for People of African Descent APN-PAD to create a synergy amongst People of African Descent in the region.

The findings of the landmark consultations will be published by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and will feed into the report of the High Commissioner to the United Nations Secretary General’s report to member states on the achievements and challenges of the International Decade for People of African Descent and the call for the proclamation of a Second United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2035).

Alando Chia