African Renaissance and Diaspora Network
18 October 2019, San José, Costa Rica – Djibril Diallo, President and CEO African Renaissance and Diaspora Network attended a high-level meeting “Accelerating global action for the fulfillment of the rights of people of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean”, from 17 to 18 October 2019 in San José, Costa Rica. It was preceded by the Consultation Forum on the progress and challenges of international commitments for afro-descendants, on October 15 and 16.
“Africans and people of African descent are often unfairly portrayed in mainstream media. Concerted efforts vs. hatred and xenophobia need to be taken to ensure that the stories that the public consumes accurately portray the hope and leadership of the continent and the diaspora”, Diallo declared.
As part of its Pathway to Solutions program: Popularizing the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, ARDN has set up a project named Equal Light, which will launch the campaign “Give a Red Card to All Forms of Discrimination and Violence Against Girls” on March 6, 2020, at the United Nations, during the celebration of the International Women’s Day.
Over 100 delegates from 26 countries, representing regional governments, academia, civil society and international organizations examined the progress and challenges facing Africa, Latin America and the Caribbeanin the implementation of the International Decade for Afro-descendants Programme of activities 2015-2024, and issue recommendations and commitments to accelerate its compliance, with an emphasis on women and young people, in articulation with the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development, the International Conference on Population and Development as well as UN Agenda 2030.
During his stay in Costa Rica, Dr Djibril Diallo had fruitful exchanges on future joint initiatives with President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada;Epsy Campbell Barr, Costa Rica’s first black woman of African descent (from Jamaica) to become Vice-president; and with Dr Natalia Kanem, United Nations Under-Secretary-General/UNFPA Executive Director.
Changing the narrative on Africa
The Africa: Open for Business Summit, which saw the participation of Vice-President Campbell Barr and AU’s Youth Envoy, AyaChabi, brought together Heads of State and Government, leading CEOs and investors, senior UN leadership and select civil society representatives at the United Nations to recognize the important role of African business, innovation, and entrepreneurship for social good.
The Summit is the continuation of last year’s historic dialogue between the African Union, Captains of Industry and numerous dignitaries at the United Nations. It will contribute to change the narrative on Africa, highlight the contributions of women and celebrate leadership for and from the African continent in pursuit of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and African Union Agenda 2063. The Summit also presents an opportunity to showcase participating African countries as a hub for business, investment and development.
Contact for media requests:
ARDN Communication Advisers:
Sandrine Delgado
WhatsApp: +221 703097080
Liliane Kambirigi
WhatsApp: +32 465179286
