OEA - CP - Resolución CP INF 10880

OEA/Ser.G CP/INF.10880/26 17 March 2026

Original: Spanish

CONCEPT NOTE

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL

WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF NINTH INTER-AMERICAN WEEK

FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN THE AMERICAS

EQUALITY THAT INSPIRES,

FREEDOM THAT TRANSFORMS, AND A HEMISPHERE THAT LEADS

(March 25, 2026)

PERMANENT COUNCILCONCEPT NOTE

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL

WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF NINTH INTER-AMERICAN WEEK FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN THE AMERICAS Equality that inspires, freedom that transforms, and a hemisphere that leads

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Place: Simón Bolívar Room

I. CONTEXT The Ninth Inter-American Week for People of African Descent in the Americas, with the slogan “Equality that inspires, freedom that transforms, and a hemisphere that leads,” is a fundamental space within the OAS to reaffirm the hemispheric commitment to promoting, protecting, and guaranteeing the human rights of individuals, peoples, and communities of African descent.

This commemoration takes on particular relevance in the current regional and international context, featuring the beginning of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, as well as efforts by member states to strengthen regulatory frameworks, public policies, and cooperation mechanisms aimed at overcoming historical inequalities derived from slavery, colonialism, and structural racism. In this context, member states are advancing the negotiation of the Inter-American Declaration on the Rights of Persons and Peoples of African Descent, an initiative that seeks to consolidate a

regional political instrument reaffirming the hemispheric commitment to racial equality, historical justice, inclusive development, and the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. The draft declaration recognizes that individuals, peoples, and communities of African descent continue to face structural inequalities, racism, and social exclusion in different areas of public and private life, and reaffirms the need to adopt comprehensive measures to ensure the full exercise of their human rights in the political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental spheres.

II. OBJECTIVE To commemorate the Ninth Inter-American Week for People of African Descent in the Americas by promoting a high-level political dialogue in the Permanent Council on progress in the negotiation of the Inter-American Declaration on the Rights of Afro-descendant Persons and Peoples and its relevance to strengthening racial equality and social justice in the Hemisphere, by:

1. Promoting a space for reflection and dialogue among member states, organs of the interAmerican system, and experts on the main substantive pillars of the Declaration.

2. Enhancing the visibility of hemispheric priorities to ensure the full exercise of the rights of Afro-descendant persons, peoples, and communities.2

3. Reaffirming the political commitment of member states to combating racism, racial discrimination, and structural inequalities in the Americas.

III. CORE THEMES OF THE DISCUSSION The special meeting of the Permanent Council will be structured around four substantive pillars contained in the draft declaration, which reflect a comprehensive approach to the promotion and protection of the rights of Afro-descendant persons and peoples in the Hemisphere.

1. Recognition This pillar addresses the importance of strengthening the legal, political, cultural, and social recognition of persons, peoples, and communities of African descent, including their right to equality and non-discrimination, the recognition of their cultural identity, the protection of their heritage and traditional knowledge, as well as their full and effective participation in public life.

2. Justice

This pillar focuses on ensuring effective access to justice and combating structural racism and racial discrimination. It also encourages reflection on initiatives related to historical memory, reparation, and measures aimed at preventing human rights violations, including those arising from new technologies and automated systems.

3. Development This pillar highlights the need to close the historical inequality gaps affecting Afro-descendant persons and communities through policies aimed at guaranteeing their economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights, as well as their participation in development processes and equitable access to opportunities.

4. Gender and intersectionality This pillar underscores the importance of addressing the multiple forms of discrimination faced by people of African descent from an intersectional perspective, with special attention to the rights of Afro-descendant women and girls, as well as the needs of other groups in situations of heightened vulnerability.

IV. PROPOSED PANELISTS:  A representative of Colombia (to be confirmed)  Mr. Luiz Barros, Chief of Staff to the Minister for Racial Equality of Brazil  A CARICOM representative (to be confirmed)  Office of the Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons of African Descent and against Racial Discrimination of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (to be confirmed)