What the UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent signifies for Black Canadians
This forum now has the great potential of dealing with historical and current issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights of people of African descent, which includes Black Canadians and immigrants, on a global platform.
Both the Parliamentary Black Caucus and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured June 5, 2020, at the Black Lives Matters demonstration on the Hill, should make actionable commitments to overcome structural and systemic anti-Black racism and to guarantee equality and dignity for people of African descent in Canada, by not just publicly welcoming the establishment of the UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, but also recognizing Black Canadians as a distinct category under federal law, by establishing a unit within the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat dedicated to addressing systemic anti-Black discrimination, writes Hodan A. Mohamed. PMO photograph courtesy of Adam Scotti
