CARICOM endorses Second Decade for People of African Descent

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chair and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley welcomed the UN’s 17 December declaration of a Second International Decade for People of African Descent, commencing January 1 2025.

In her inaugural address as Chair, Mottley highlighted the region’s role in advocating for this milestone, citing achievements from the first decade, including the global acknowledgment of CARICOM’s ten-point plan for reparatory justice and the establishment of the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent.

She emphasized the ongoing need for action, urging a global dialogue to address the legacy of slavery and colonialism. “…so much remains to be done in this area. We must continue to press the international community for a mature, face-to-face conversation at all levels, so that we may see them repair the damage from the exploitation through the immoral institutions of slavery and colonialism which our people suffered from.,” she stated.

Mottley called on the region to advocate for resources to enhance the dignity, security, and material well-being of African-descended communities worldwide. She underscored the moral urgency of addressing disparities, such as the lack of electricity for 600 million Africans, and reiterated CARICOM’s commitment to strengthening ties with the African Union.

The theme for the Second Decade is “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice, and Development.”