The theme for the Decade is
“People of African descent:
recognition, justice and development”
“In proclaiming this Decade, the international community is recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected. Around 200 million people identifying themselves as being of African descent live in the America’s. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent.” Visit the site.
U.N. Experts visit Canada. The Working Group visited Canada from 17 to 21 October 2016, visiting Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and Montreal. Invited by the Government of Canada, the experts met with several federal government departments including Global Affairs, Statistics Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Public Safety, RCMP, National Defence, Correctional Services, and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The 16-page report was published in August 2017. It includes a historical overview and demographics, and detailed documentation on framework and steps taken by Canada to protect the human rights of people of African descent, manifestations of racial discrimination; followed by conclusions and 41 recommendations. Link to the report
Canada officially recognizes the Decade: On January 30, 2018 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Government of Canada would officially recognize the International Decade for People of African Descent.