Our Story

The Global Coalition Against Racism was presented on August 31, 2021, within the framework of the first commemoration of the International Day of People of African Descent. The Coalition was founded by the former Vice President of Costa Rica, Dr. Epsy Campbell Barr, who presented a powerful Decalogue of Commitments, which must be signed by all its members and adherents.

This coalition arises in response to the systemic racism faced by Afro-descendant peoples and communities, as well as a mechanism to promote actions that contribute to transforming the reality of exclusion and discrimination experienced by Afro-descendant peoples and communities as a result of this scourge.

As the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) proclaimed by the United Nations draws to a close, it becomes necessary to accelerate efforts to fulfill all commitments assumed by the Member States and civil society through the program of activities recognized in this declaration, in a spirit of recognition, justice, and development for Afro-descendant people. Also, through other international instruments that constitute a broad and robust legal framework for the recognition and development of Afro-descendant peoples worldwide, highlighting the Declaration and Program of Action of Durban (2002), and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969), and a series of international and regional treaties and conventions, reaffirmed by legislation and public policies at the national and subnational levels in dozens of countries.

From this significant achievement of guarantees and rights, duly protected in the legal system, an international governance for Afro-descendants has also emerged within the United Nations System, such as the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (1969), the Working Group of Experts and Experts and more recently the Permanent Forum of Afro-descendants (2021), which aims to promote and monitor the compliance with these recognition and rights agendas.

Inequality and exclusion gaps persist against Afro-descendant people worldwide. Systemic racism is prevalent in modern societies, and States are far from repairing the damages of slavery and colonialism; on the contrary, they continue to reproduce these practices in new forms of social and economic organization.

No African or Afro-descendant person in the world should accept less than what others receive, no child born anywhere in the world should shed a single tear due to mockery, or deserve a future without the same opportunities as others. That is the premise to which we must all be committed, from each of our environments. In the words of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet: "Systemic racism requires a systemic response. A comprehensive strategy, rather than a fragmented approach, is needed to dismantle systems based on centuries of violence and discrimination. We need a transformative approach that addresses the interconnected areas that drive racism and repeatedly lead to tragedies that could be avoided, such as the death of George Floyd (Bachelet; 2021)."

To combat racial discrimination, States, societies, and all sectors must opt for a systemic approach, adopting and monitoring responses that involve the entire Government and society, integrated into national and regional action plans.

This initiative arises in response to the urgent call for Action made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in her Report on Systemic Racism following the cruel and unacceptable murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Police. It also arises from the discussions held during the first commemoration of the International Day of Afro-descendant People, on August 31, 2021, organized by the government of Costa Rica with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations System.

The Coalition responds to the need to make a common front against all forms of racism, racial prejudice, and structural discrimination. We call for action to promote the Global Coalition against Systemic Racism and for Reparations. This coalition is understood as an institutional and organizational articulation space that seeks to generate and propose concrete strategies to eliminate racism and address all its effects.

Within the framework of the "Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination: Path towards a rights-based post-COVID recovery," organized by UNESCO in Mexico City in November 2022, the Coalition was formally launched with broad participation from Afro-descendant leaders, representatives of governments, the United Nations System, and Afro-descendant Civil Society.

Through the "Decalogue of Action against Racism," we, from the Coalition, have established a guide of guiding principles and specific commitments that all state, social, or business organizations forming this community must comply with, thus progressively transforming each of their living and organizational culture spaces and eradicating all forms of racism and discrimination against African or Afro-descendant people.

Currently, we have more than 50 organizations affiliated with the Coalition and have a presence in more than 8 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Join this call to Action, either through the Coordinating Committee or through the National Chapters established in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Panama.