New Delhi: Every year on July 25, the International Day of Black Latin American and Caribbean Women (B.L.A.C Women’s Day) also called the International Afro-descendant Women’s Day is observed. The day is linked to the Afrofeminism movement and also encompasses the African diaspora’s recognition and the rights of those having African descent. In this article, we will learn more about this day.
When was the day started?
The Meeting of Afro-descendant Women was held on July 25, 1992, in the Dominican Republic. In the meeting, around 300 women from 32 nations in Latin America met to define strategies for political advocacy and join hands against racism and gender discrimination. Later, July 25 became the day of the International Afro-descendant Women’s Day and it is also called International Afro-Latin American, Afro-Caribbean and Diaspora Women’s Day.
Years later, the United Nations General Assembly, in a resolution in December 2013, declared the years 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent. The theme of the decade is ‘People of African descent: recognition, justice and development’. The theme highlighted the racism that persists to this day despite the efforts of millions of people. Over the years, many people including authorities of Latin American nations have made efforts and undertaken initiatives to put a check on discrimination, and racism and to ensure that people of African descent enjoy every social, economic, civil and political right. But racial discrimination persists, with intolerance and xenophobia present in the consciousness of society.
Why is the day celebrated?
The International Afro-descendant Women’s Day is celebrated to make the fight against racism stronger, to eliminate ethnic prejudice and to celebrate the Afro-descendent women’s values, achievements, and culture and their contribution to various fields of society. The primary objective of the day is to promote equal rights and opportunities for Afro-descendant women since they face inequalities in society to this day. The occasion makes us aware of the challenges faced by them and the need to improve their social conditions.
The Wander Women Project states that around 130 million people of African descent live in Latin America and out of them, around 51 per cent are women. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and WWP have jointly stated that Afro-descendant people in Latin American nations are subjected to racism and marginalization, and the origin of these malicious practices goes back to slavery, colonialism and other such factors. And women, due to their race and gender, face a compounded form of discrimination. They are objectified, sexualized, physically, psychologically, and sexually abused and face greater obstacles in getting quality education, healthcare services and job opportunities.
Hence, the day celebrates the Afro-descendant women’s achievements against all odds in several fields like science, law, arts, sports, politics, activism, etc. Also, the day points that way ahead and the huge task still left to make the world free of racism and its related vices. Despite the International Decade for People of African Descent, ethnic discrimination and violence persist against women which is robbing them of their basic rights and liberties.
The International Afro-descendant Women’s Day is celebrated to make the fight against racism stronger, to eliminate ethnic prejudice and to celebrate the Afro-descendent women’s values, achievements, and culture and their contribution to various fields of society. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
