2 Equals 12

2 Equals 12

Topic: The United Nations

The United Nations (UN) has played a significant role in Black history, particularly in advancing human rights and combating racial discrimination around the world. The UN Charter, which was adopted in 1945, includes principles of equality and nondiscrimination that have been essential in the fight for racial equality.

One key moment in Black history involving the UN was the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which recognizes the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, regardless of race, nationality, or any other status. This document has served as a foundational instrument in the struggle for racial justice globally.

The UN has also established bodies and mechanisms dedicated to addressing racial discrimination, such as the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. These entities work to monitor, investigate, and make recommendations on how to combat racial discrimination and promote racial equality worldwide.

Additionally, the UN has declared the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) to focus on recognizing and promoting the rights of people of African descent, acknowledging their contributions to societies worldwide, and addressing the challenges they face in terms of discrimination, inequality, and social exclusion.

Overall, the United Nations has been a crucial international forum for advancing the rights and dignity of Black people and fighting against systemic racism and discrimination in all its forms.