This dialogue is a forum for decision makers, academics and civil society organizations. It is a space to share lessons learned, exchange experiences and identify areas of mutual technical assistance and international cooperation on urgent and emerging issues related to populations of African descent.
Today, some 134 million people of African descent live in the Latin American region. According to most socioeconomic indicators, people of African descent along with indigenous peoples, experience a higher incidence of poverty than any other population group in the region, due to a history of endemic and structural subjugation, marginalization, discrimination and racism.
Discrimination and structural racism result in a constant deprivation of rights in all areas, including health, education, social protection, decent work and access to housing. This deprivation is intensifying in the context of the pandemic and could increase inequalities further still, to the detriment of populations of African descent. The pandemic may be affecting these groups disproportionately, although scarce disaggregated information limits the quality of the analyses needed to guide policies and response strategies.
In the framework of the specificities of each country in the region, it is also important to consider the leading role of the population of African descent in economic and social recovery, as part of the process to rebuild societies deeply affected by the required health measures.
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