United Nations, December 8 (RHC)-- Latin America must take enormous steps in order to reverse the lingering impacts of nearly five centuries of racial discrimination towards Latin America’s Afro-descendant population, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein stated on Monday.

During his speech at the first meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on the International Decade for People of African Descent, Zeid called on regional governments to implement measures to eliminate the legacy of racial discrimination.   

“Ten years to reverse five centuries of structural discrimination? Racial discrimination that has deep roots grown in colonialism and slavery and nourished daily with fear, poverty and violence, roots that aggressively infiltrate every aspect of life – from access to food and education to physical integrity, to participation in decisions that fundamentally affect one’s life,” Zeid said.

Despite a population of nearly 150 million, Latin America’s Afro-descendants are disproportionately affected by extreme poverty, social exclusion and vulnerability. 

In efforts to reverse this trend, Zeid called on nations to adopt and uphold their commitments towards advancing the rights and quality of life of Afro-descendants. Zeid outlined several policy proposals including the implementation of human rights treaties such as the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA).

The U.N. meeting on Afro-descendants focused on three topics: justice, development, and the political and cultural recognition of the organization's values. It also sought to establish a framework of collaboration between experts, civil society and the state on these issues.