Celebrating 25 Years of the Durban Declaration and the Programme of Action

This issue of GICJ African Affairs marks the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), a landmark international framework adopted in 2001 to confront racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. Twenty-five years later, the DDPA remains a vital point of reference in global efforts to address both the historical roots and present-day manifestations of racial injustice, particularly those affecting people of African descent.

This edition reflects on the enduring significance of the Durban framework and the urgent need to strengthen its implementation in the face of persistent inequality and new forms of discrimination.

Through a series of contributions, the newsletter examines the DDPA from multiple perspectives. It revisits its origins and principles, highlights normative developments linked to the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the rights of people of African descent, and explores the role of education in challenging structural racism and reshaping public understanding. It also considers the practical dimensions of implementation, including funding, national action plans, and institutional accountability, while connecting these broader struggles for justice to current developments on the African continent.

Grounded in the advocacy of the GICJ Africa Group, this issue reaffirms the importance of amplifying African voices in international human rights discussions and advancing concrete measures toward equality, dignity, reparative justice, and lasting peace. More than a commemoration, this edition is a call to renew commitment to the promises of Durban and to translate them into meaningful action.