In 2013, the United Nations declared 2015 to 2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent with the theme “people of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”
CUPE is renewing our commitment to the goals of the International Decade for People of African Descent by:
Recognizing the right to equality and not discrimination. We must acknowledge and educate about racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and the intersectionality of these experiences.
Ensuring access to justice. People of African descent continue to be subjected to police violence and are overrepresented in the prison system.
Promoting the right to development and measures against poverty, including access to quality education, housing and health care.
Promoting policies that take an intersectional approach against discrimination. Canada needs to develop and address existing policies that are discriminatory on intersecting grounds based on sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, property, birth, disability or other status.
International studies show people of African descent still have limited access to quality education, health services, housing and social security. While the International Decade for People of African Descent ends in 2024, these inequities continue. CUPE’s commitment to recognizing and addressing the injustices faced by people of African descent does not end with this year.
How you and your local can continue the decade’s work:
- Canada has extended its commitment to the decade until 2028. Learn what the federal government is doing.
- Read the Report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on its mission to Canada.
- Read the UN recommendations on implementing the goals of the Decade.
- Organize a lunch and learn on the decade in your local.
- Read CUPE’s statement on the decade at the beginning of your local meetings.
- Add the decade to your local meeting agenda and discuss ways to honor it at your next union event. This can include inviting a speaker to talk about the decade’s significance, organizing a panel of members who are of African descent or allies to talk about their experiences, or screening a documentary.
- Have a conversation at your next union meeting about how the goals of the decade are reflected in the life of your members. How do they experience these issues in their workplace, their union or society?
- Order free materials to promote Black History Month in your local.
- Organize anti-racism training in your workplace or local to educate yourself and fellow CUPE members.
Our solidarity with people of African descent is a collective duty, not just an individual responsibility. The end of the decade does not put an expiry date on our solidarity. Let’s keep pushing forward for justice, recognition and development for people of African descent.
