Commemorating Afro-Colombian Day – 21 May
A lasting peace is unattainable without everyone’s participation.
The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia joins the commemoration of Afro-Colombian Day and reaffirms its commitment to fighting against racism and all forms of discrimination.
In Colombia, Afro-Colombian peoples, just like Indigenous, Raizal, Palenquero and Rrom peoples, have been and are disproportionately affected by the armed conflict, forced displacement and territorial dispossession. The Ethnic Chapter of the Peace Agreement acknowledges this state of affairs and reinforces the Colombian State’s resolve to guarantee their rights, improve their living conditions, and promote their active participation in peacebuilding.
Today, we call on Colombian institutions to take decisive steps towards implementing the Ethnic Chapter. You can count on us as a steadfast ally in this quest.
— Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia.
