Transforming Discrimination into Global Change 🌍🇺🇳
Mercy Hands Europe, represented by our Project Manager Intern, Amanda Rios, had the opportunity to attend an event hosted by the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent at the United Nations in Geneva, organized by @phenomenalwomenglobal, @apnswitzerland, and @faang_community.
The event, "Representation Matters: Afro-Swiss Communities Advancing the Durban Declaration," generated discussions led by influential speakers and local actors, such as:
-H.E. Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Gambia to the Swiss Confederation and United Nations Office, Geneva;
-Amb. Martin Kimani, former Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations in New York;
-Liza Sekaggya, human rights officer to the OHCHR and President of Phenomenal Women`s Global;
- Ahmed Jama, President of the Geneva Municipal Council
-Laurent Jimaja, Mayor of Grand Sacconex;
-Maître Ndaté Dieng, lawyer and advocate;
-Candace Nkoth Bisseck, President of APNS.
Throughout the panel, conversations concerning turning national concerns into international commitments in the fight against racism and intolerance were held. These discussions provided insight into how local actors in Geneva and beyond are seeking a globalized approach to mobilize and strengthen the voices of African-descendant people.
Additionally, speakers like Maître Ndaté Dieng emphasized the need to have Afro-descendant women in roles of responsibility and leadership to correct inequalities within the national and international system.
Speaker Liza Sekaggya highlighted a point on the need to bridge the gap between Geneva and grassroots organizations, where United Nations engagement should not occur solely within the international space, but come back to the local communities.
Panels like these provide opportunities to engage and participate in discussions that impact our local communities right here in Geneva🇨🇭
We are incredibly grateful to have been able to join in listening to this discussion, and want to thank the organizations involved for planning such a meaningful event.
#UnitedNations #InternationalGeneva
