UN marks second International Day for People of African Descent

The International Day for People of African Descent, commemorated on 31 August, is a day of celebration of the heritage and contributions of people of African descent.

Moreover, it is also “a day of recognition of the enslavement and trade of millions of Africans as one of the darkest chapters in our human history,” said Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“It is a day to acknowledge the legacies of enslavement, colonialism and deep-rooted systemic racism that are still manifest today.”

The International Day for People of African Descent serves as a reminder that all racial superiority theories are false, contradicted by science, socially unjust, and harmful at the same time.

Events and seminars that are organized on this day aim to educate the general public about the need to condemn racism and any beliefs that contend there are distinct human races.