EU Explanation of Position – United Nations 3rd Committee: UN Decade for people of African descent

Mr. Chairperson,

The European Union is pleased to be able to join consensus on this resolution today. Despite our concerns about International Decades, Years and Days not always being the best way to address issues of concerns, we consider that this initiative may contribute to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons of African Descent and we therefore recognise its added value.

The European Union is grateful to the main sponsors of this resolution for their efforts to address our initial concerns and for their constructive approach throughout the negotiations. Ensuring that this resolution maintained its focus on all human rights of persons of African Descent, and that activities undertaken by the UN system in support of the international year would not incur any programme budget implications, were of particular interest to us. The main sponsors of the resolution have addressed both these concerns. Given the language contained in OP1 and OP2 of the resolution, we therefore anticipate that the Secretary General’s draft Programme of Activities will conform to these principles.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.

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