Report launch and panel discussion “In Her Shoes: Human Rights Challenges faced by Women and Girls of African Descent”

Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko,
Ms. Gilmore,
Ladies and gentlemen:

Toni Morrison, the first African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature and Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul” are just two well-known names of amazingly talented women of African descent without whom our world would have been culturally poor and less inspiring.

But: how many talents have been lost because women of African descent don't have the same opportunities in education and employment? And how many talents simply get overlooked?

We can't afford to miss out on anyone’s talent any longer. As we have given ourselves the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and vowed to leave no-one behind, we need everyone’s skill and talent, and everyone’s perspective to be able to move forward.

It is therefore my great pleasure to welcome you to today’s book launch and panel discussion about the Human Rights Challenges of Women of African Descent.

The book “In Her Shoes: Human Rights Challenges faced by Women and Girls of African Descent” demonstrates how these women and girls continue to face intersecting and multiple forms of discrimination. People of African descent, particularly women, are subject to patterns of negative stereotyping, which are the underlying causes of exclusion, marginalization, violence and violations of their human rights. They are at a higher risk of becoming victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. They are more likely to suffer from inhuman or degrading treatment by the police or other law enforcement agencies and officials. And they face serious barriers to political participation.

The respect for the principles of equality and non-discrimination, enshrined in numerous human rights instruments, including in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 70th anniversary of which we celebrate this year, remains, unfortunately, for many women and girls of African descent an unreachable goal.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has launched this book to underline how much still needs to be done to guarantee equal human rights for these women and girls.

But: to achieve real equal opportunities for women of African descent, we can’t leave it up to OHCHR to do it all alone. We need a fundamental change of mindset and we need all actors on board.

The General Assembly has therefore proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent that runs from 2015 to 2024. This Decade calls on all stakeholders to join together with people of African descent and take effective measures in the spirit of “recognition, justice and development”, which is the theme of the decade. The General Assembly has requested us all to raise awareness about the International Decade and the human rights situation of people of African descent and the book we present today will be an important tool to help us in this endeavour.

Ladies and gentlemen,
There are 7 years to go until we conclude this International Decade for People of African Descent and there are 12 years to go until we have to account for the results of the 2030 Agenda. We have no time to lose!

As we mark International Women’s Day today, let us all join forces, let us all become activists for the rights of women of African descent and for creating environments in which they can realize their full potential.

Thank you all for being here with us today and please enjoy the exhibition.