International Day for People of African Descent2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/75/170
About International Day for People of African Descent
The International Day for People of African Descent is observed on 31 August. The United Nations established it to promote recognition of the contributions of people of African descent and to strengthen action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The day sits within a longer UN history that includes the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the 2011 International Year for People of African Descent and the International Decade for People of African Descent.
Why International Day for People of African Descent matters
Recognition and anti-discrimination are linked. Celebrating cultural, social, scientific, political and economic contributions has greater value when it is paired with attention to unequal treatment, historical injustice and barriers that still affect people of African descent.
The observance can therefore be used for education, historical research, institutional review and concrete work on equality rather than treating heritage as separate from rights.
History of International Day for People of African Descent
A revised Third Committee draft was submitted by Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru and Suriname, with many additional sponsors.
On 16 December 2020, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/170 without a vote and proclaimed 31 August as the International Day for People of African Descent.
The United Nations explicitly described 31 August 2021 as the first-ever observance. The proclamation followed earlier UN initiatives focused on recognition, justice, development and the elimination of racial discrimination.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
International Year for People of African Descent
The General Assembly had earlier proclaimed 2011 the International Year for People of African Descent; A/RES/75/170 expressly recalls that initiative before establishing the annual day.
International Decade for People of African Descent
The annual day was established during the International Decade and its resolution expressly situates the observance within that longer recognition, justice and development framework.
Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru and Suriname
The UN Digital Library lists these 13 states as authors of revised draft A/C.3/75/L.51/Rev.1, which became A/RES/75/170, and records many additional sponsors.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/170
First documented observance
The UN Secretary-General called 31 August 2021 the first-ever International Day for People of African Descent.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
How to Observe International Day for People of African Descent
Study the history and contributions of African-descended communities in your own country or region using museums, archives and scholarship produced with community involvement.
Read the Durban Declaration and related UN materials alongside local evidence about discrimination, representation and access to opportunity.
Support cultural institutions, researchers and community organizations documenting African diaspora histories that have been neglected or fragmented.
Use the day to review an institution’s policies or data for unequal outcomes and identify a specific, measurable improvement rather than stopping at awareness.
International Day for People of African Descent Facts
The observance is held annually on 31 August.
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/75/170 on 16 December 2020 without a vote.
Thirteen states are listed as authors of the revised Third Committee draft that led to the resolution.
The first International Day for People of African Descent was observed on 31 August 2021.
The observance builds on earlier UN initiatives including the International Year and International Decade for People of African Descent.
International Day for People of African Descent Messages
May International Day for People of African Descent encourage thoughtful participation, shared responsibility and action that continues after the observance ends.
Wishing everyone observing International Day for People of African Descent a day of reflection, constructive dialogue and purposeful follow-through.
On International Day for People of African Descent, may awareness lead to informed discussion, practical action and respect for the communities at the heart of the observance.
International Day for People of African Descent Quotes
“We must remove the persistent barriers preventing so many people of African descent from exercising their rights and realizing their potential.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/75/170 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — revised draft A/C.3/75/L.51/Rev.1 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Secretary-General — first-ever observance, 31 August 2021 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — first commemoration event material (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day for People of African Descent?
31 August The documented recurrence rule is: 31 August.
Does International Day for People of African Descent fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day for People of African Descent an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day for People of African Descent?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru and Suriname.
Is International Day for People of African Descent international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When was the International Day for People of African Descent established?
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/170 on 16 December 2020 and proclaimed 31 August as the annual observance.
When was it first observed?
The United Nations identifies 31 August 2021 as the first-ever International Day for People of African Descent.
What is the purpose of the day?
It recognizes the contributions of people of African descent while supporting action against racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance.
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