United Nations, April 14 (RHC)-- Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez urged the international community on Monday to act decisively against structural racism, historical exclusion, and the invisibility of people of African descent in the global system.
During a speech at the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the vice president called on global leaders to assume the historic responsibility of closing the inequality gaps that persist in this area.
She commented that her nation is one of the most unequal in Latin America regarding this issue. The Colombian vice president explained that, in light of this reality, the current government created the Ministry of Equality and Equity to work for the rights of historically excluded and marginalized populations.
Francia Marguez also highlighted the creation of the National Intersectoral Commission for Historical Reparation, which is currently making progress in formulating a program to address the damage and consequences caused by colonialism, enslavement, and systematic racism.
"Additionally, we are developing public policy for the eradication of racism and racial discrimination," she explained. Later in her speech, she presented five proposals that she deemed absolutely necessary to combat the inequalities faced by people of African descent.
First, she called for the creation of a Global Forum on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and New Technologies to address racism and racial discrimination with clear regulations and protections for users.
She also advocated for a resolution within the United Nations system that fully recognizes people of African descent and their rights, as well as for the implementation of a plan for historical reparations within the framework of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, which runs from this year until 2034.
Another of her proposals focused on the creation of a global fund for historical reparations to address the effects of colonialism, slavery, and racism, and the design of an international action plan that promotes the leadership of women and girls in Black communities.
[ SOURCE : teleSUR ]
