Advancing racial justice and the global rights of people of African descent in the next decade.

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1589 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1589

  Advancing racial justice and the global rights of people of African 
                      descent in the next decade.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 20, 2024

 Mr. Johnson of Georgia (for himself, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr. Davis of 
Illinois, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Omar, 
    Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Williams of Georgia, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Advancing racial justice and the global rights of people of African 
                      descent in the next decade.

Whereas the United Nations decade the ``International Decade for People of 
        African Descent'' is ending on December 31, 2024;
Whereas, following General Assembly Resolution 75/314, the United Nations 
        Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (UNFPAD) held its first 
        session in Geneva in December 2022, its second session in New York in 
        May and June 2023, and its third session in Geneva in April 2024;
Whereas, in the UNFPAD forums, the critical issues concerning people of African 
        descent were raised: global reparatory justice; Pan-Africanism for 
        dignity, justice, and peace; sustainable development agenda; evidence-
        based approach to addressing systemic and structural racism; 
        transnational migration; health, well-being, and intergenerational 
        trauma; and offers recommendations for how member states can advance 
        these matters;
Whereas recognizing the valuable contributions of high-level officials of 
        African descent in their respective countries and the presence and 
        reaffirmation of the goals and objectives of the International Decade 
        for People of African Descent, which materializes these lofty goals;
Whereas, during the United Nations international decade for people of African 
        descent, governments and civil society across the globe just scratched 
        the surface of working collectively at the global level to raise 
        visibility and act on these issues of priority concern raised in the 
        United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations High Commissioner 
        for Human Rights;
Whereas governments in concert with civil society must strengthen national, 
        regional, and international action and cooperation to facilitate the 
        full and equal participation of people of African descent in society, 
        promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, 
        culture, and contributions of people of African descent to the 
        development of societies, and to strengthen and implement legal 
        frameworks that combat racial discrimination;
Whereas further action is required for governments to implement in conjunction 
        with civil society effective national action plans and other strategies 
        to address racial disparities impacting people of African descent in the 
        justice, wealth, education, employment, health, housing, development, 
        and other sectors;
Whereas further action is required for governments to integrate into their 
        public policies differentiated efforts that elevate, address, and 
        advance the rights of Afro-descendant women, children, LGBQTIA+ persons, 
        the elderly, and disabled persons;
Whereas the United States Government is a party to the United States-Colombia 
        Racial Action Plan and the Brazil-United States Joint Action Plan 
        (CAPREE) to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination (JAPER), is 
        advancing similar agreements with Uruguay and Mexico and is the first 
        international accompanier to the Ethnic Chapter of the 2016 Colombia 
        peace accord; and
Whereas the people of Haiti continue to face significant challenges, including 
        political instability, economic hardship, and the effects of natural 
        disasters, which exacerbate the systemic inequalities experienced by 
        people of African descent: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the second United Nations International Decade 
        for People of African Descent to 2025-2034;
            (2) urges the Department of State to proactively support 
        and advance the United Nations Declaration on the promotion and 
        full respect of the human rights of people of African descent;
            (3) supports the United Nations International Independent 
        Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the 
        context of law enforcement (EMLER) and funding to combat racial 
        discrimination worldwide;
            (4) supports the expansion of current efforts by the United 
        Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 
        Organization of American States, and other international 
        organizations to address the human rights situation of people 
        of African descent means of upholding their human dignity and 
        equality and promoting societal reconciliation and healing;
            (5) calls upon the United States in cooperation with civil 
        society (African-descent communities, academics, activists, 
        businesses, and philanthropic organizations) to develop and 
        implement domestic and global strategies to execute the goals 
        and ideals of the second ``International Decade for People of 
        African Descent'' and to combat racism, including by expanding 
        the transformative work of the Department of State's Race, 
        Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion Unit in this regard; and
            (6) reaffirms the commitment of Congress to combat racism, 
        discrimination, and intolerance with a differentiated gender 
        focus in the United States and around the globe.
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