Page 24 - DIVA_1_2016

I N I E R N AT 0 N A L

"Despite
expressions

of good
intentions,
most member
states remain
indifferent

to their
responsibili-
ties and have
difficulty in

allocating
financial
and technical
resources in

order to make
this dream
come true."

should be more visibility in the in- contribute our input to the work they litical affairs without discrimination,
ternational arena. are doing—this is quite unfair to us! in accordance with international hu-
man rights law"
Thus far, the governments of United We welcome the "Fellowship Pro-
Nations member states have been gramme" that runs parallel to the The Forum should be established,
playing the diplomatic game, re- Working Group of Experts on People bearing in mind the best practices
maining silent and indifferent to of African Descent, and we call for a of the "Forum of Indigenous Issues",
their commitment to the Interna- better selection of candidates, taking with an equitable and regional rep-
tional Decade for People of African into account those who need more resentation of expert leaders among
Descent. Major players, such as the training. people of African descent who have
Inter-American Development Bank the capacity to change things. This
and the World Bank—two of the Q: Tell me more about the does not means that we are just go-
main multilateral agencies—manage Permanent Forum. ing to listen to their complaints, but
and distribute substantial financial We are anticipating the establishment rather to establish a mutual dialogue
and technical resources in most of of a Permanent Forum for People of and to try to find solutions based on
our Latin American countries. African Descent as a priority matter. normative standards.
This is a new platform to discuss the
Besides other forms of discrimination, Programme of Activities and objec- I would like to take this opportunity
NGO representatives living in Swit- tives of the International Decade for to thank the Director-General of the
zerland are unable to obtain financial People of African Descent. In recog- United Nations for his efforts and sup-
help to attend conferences in other nizing the Decade Dedicated to Peo- port in creating more space here in
countries. Even though we are living ple of African Descent the United Na- the Palais des Nations in Geneva for
and working here, it does not mean tions declares: "States should adopt NGOs.
that we are rich enough to travel. Most measures to enable the full, equal
of the time we are working voluntarily. and effective participation of people 1. http://www.un.org/en/events/afri-
On the other hand, they do ask us to of African descent in public and po- candescentdecade/recognition.shtml

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT - DIVA 21