The UN Human Rights Council’s 63rd session has held an interactive dialogue on the latest report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, bringing reparatory justice and cultural restitution into the centre of its Item 9 agenda.
Report A/HRC/63/71 summarises the Permanent Forum’s fifth session, held in Geneva in April 2026 under the theme of expanding human rights during the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.
The Forum examined how the legacies of enslavement, colonialism and racial discrimination continue to influence present-day inequality, exclusion and unequal access to political, economic and cultural life.
A major focus was the return and restitution of cultural artefacts, with participants arguing that museums and governments must engage affected communities transparently and treat cultural heritage as part of identity, dignity and reparatory justice.
The report also highlights the situation of children and young people of African descent, calling for stronger protection against discrimination and greater access to education, employment, participation and culturally relevant public services.
Delegations discussed the need to translate the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action into measurable policies, while supporting work toward a United Nations declaration on the rights of people of African descent.
The HRC63 dialogue reinforced calls for states to move beyond symbolic recognition by consulting affected communities, addressing structural inequalities and developing concrete, adequately funded programmes for justice and equality.
References
- OHCHR: A/HRC/63/71 — Report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
- United Nations Geneva: Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
- UN Web TV: Fifth session of the Permanent Forum