April 22, 2024 Geneva, Switzerland Employment and Social Development Canada
In 2018, Canada became the first Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country to recognize the United Nations (UN) Decade for People of African Descent, as a part of the Canadian government's commitment to taking a whole-of-government approach to combatting systemic racism.
Building upon that commitment, last week, the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, concluded a productive working session at the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in Geneva. She was joined by a group of Canadians from civil society, who showcased Canada's commitment to building a more equitable society.
Minister Khera, the Canadian delegation and members of civil society discussed the systemic barriers and the wide-ranging forms of discrimination that people of African descent face both in Canada and around the world.
In her opening remarks, Minister Khera reiterated Canada's determination to support Black people in Canada, including over $860 million that the Government of Canada has directed under the UN Decade to deliver programs such as the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund, and the Black Entrepreneurship Program.
While at the Forum, Minister Khera also made note of proposed new funding measures, announced through Budget 2024, to support Black Canadians. Specifically, the Budget proposes $8 million over 5 years, with $1.6 million ongoing, to support the expansion of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments, which allow sentencing judges to consider the disadvantages and systemic racism that contributed to racialized Canadians' interactions with the criminal justice system. When meeting with Canadian youth attending the Forum, she highlighted the $4 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, for the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue supporting initiatives through the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund that aims to increase health equity and address mental health and its determinants for Black Canadians. Additionally, Minister Khera emphasized Budget 2024's proposal to provide $273.6 million over six years, starting in 2024-25, with $29.3 million ongoing, for Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate.
Members of the Forum recommended that the United Nations adopt a second International Decade for People of African Descent, following the conclusion of the current Decade at the end of this year. Minister Khera signalled Canada's intention to support the Forum's call for a second Decade, noting that Canada's domestic efforts in support of the Decade have already been extended through 2028.
Minister Khera also held bilateral discussions to continue collaboration on combatting systemic racism and empowering people of African Descent around the world.
