What are the structural barriers in making universal human rights accessible to people of African descent? An Auto-ethnography of activism against Afrophobia and other forms of xenophobia in modern times.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this postgraduate dissertation is to define and critically analyse structural barriers which prevent people of African descent globally from fulfilling their universal human rights. The preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 explicitly states that universal human rights should be enjoyed equally by all individuals; and prohibits racial discrimination in their respect, promotion, protection and fulfilment. International and regional treaties including the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 1965 and the European Convention on Human Rights 1950/53 also champion the cause of race equality. My thesis argues that the codification of anti-discrimination legislation has not equated with accessibility to universal human rights for people of African descent in practice, e.g. governments do not realise state obligations equally.
The justification for this academic research includes celebration of the civil rights movement, whilst acknowledging the recent rise in xenophobia and anti-immigrant abuse within the European Union, and realises the need to address “Afrophobia” as a human rights issue. It therefore remains imperative that the international community remains alert to systemic racism, including structural discrimination and other forms of xenophobia, which persist despite the codification of international human rights treaties. In addition, this research shows sub-cultural minorities e.g. LGBT Africans, do not enjoy equal access to universal human rights, and the benefits of sustainable development.
The scope of this academic research is global, general and universal illustrating agreement with the indivisibility, interdependence and inter-relatedness of universal human rights proclaimed by the Vienna Convention of the United Nations twenty years ago. In this respect, the researcher’s role as auto-ethnographer relies on self-regarding and other-regarding humanistic research which highlights inequalities experienced by members of the African diaspora. The primary focus of my research therefore illustrates relationships between causal factors of structural discrimination including history, politics, etc., and the realisation of correlative state obligations which respect, protect and fulfil universal human rights.
The focus of my research is accessibility of universal human rights for people of African descent, with reference to UN Millennium Development Goals; and progress made achieving these standards, e.g. through poverty alleviation. I argue this remains adversely affected by structural discrimination, and include historical references of both a legislative and literary nature to argue my thesis. Moreover, I critically analyse targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ( formerly known as the Post 2015 Development Agenda), in relation to migration and social inclusion of Black people. To conclude, I state that despite increased codification of anti-discrimination laws globally, internationally and nationally race inequality still persists.
THE ABOVE DISSERTATION GAINED A DISTINCTION TOWARDS THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS (MERIT), BY THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, IN 2014.
Comments
Black History Month 2019 provides an opportunity for us all to reflect on our achievements as members of the global African diaspora, as we approach the midway point of IDPAD 2015-2024, and five years of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The realities of past and present manifestations of racial discrimination and inequality are well documented and understood, and our resilience as a people in the face of such oppression is therefore noteworthy.
Here in the UK, despite the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and other parties advocating the state party implement a suitable programme of policies to officially recognise IDPAD, to date this has not been forthcoming. Rather, fiscal austerity and the rise of anti-immigrant populist sentiment present further challenges to be surmounted by people of African descent, such as BREXIT, the recent Windrush Scandal, and decline in numbers of BAME led sector organisations. Nonetheless, some members of civil society here in Bristol have actively sought to achieve IDPAD’s programme of action with its’ thematic objectives of recognition, justice and development for our communities. For example, recognition of Bristol’s Afrikan migrant communities’ resistance to Afriphobia/Afrophobia is documented, in the launch of African Voices Forum’s publication “Inspirational Women”, on the IDPAD website. In addition, inclusive and equitable participation by local African diaspora communities in the implementation of Bristol City Council’s One City Plan should be recognised as imperative for social, economic and environmental development of the urbanism.
Global resurgence of the Reparations Movement also highlights intergenerational effects of enslavement and colonisation of African peoples still resonate in our daily lives. Reparative justice is therefore being championed by Pan Africanist members of international civil society, as well as Black politicians and academics. This is recognised by the Resolution on the Fundamental Rights of People of African Descent and Black Europeans in Europe, which was adopted in the European Parliament in March 2019. Acknowledging measures taken by some EU Member States, “toward meaningful and effective redress for past injustices and crimes against humanity (and) bearing in mind their lasting impacts in the present, against people of African descent”, the Resolution calls for further reparations by European Union state parties and institutions including restitution of stolen African artefacts.
The Resolution also “stresses the important role of civil society organisations in combating racism and discrimination, and calls for increasing financial support at the European, national and local level for grassroots and People of African Descent-led organisations.” Public and private sector organisations are therefore encouraged to collaborate with and facilitate development of African-descent led civil society locally, nationally and internationally. This is necessary to achieve Bristol’s One City Plan, as a successful outcome of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which addresses inequality by empowering local socioeconomically marginalised African diaspora communities, as well as the city’s other ethnic and sub-cultural minorities.