Afro-Descendants demand greater political participation and end to racism at Santo Domingo Forum

Santo Domingo.- Afro-descendants from 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean concluded the Bicentennial Forum for Afro-descendant Reparations in Santo Domingo by calling for increased political participation and the eradication of racism. The three-day event culminated in the “Santo Domingo Declaration,” where representatives committed to combating racism, discrimination, and xenophobia while urging states to recognize their historical debts to Afro-descendant communities.

The declaration emphasized the importance of human rights, environmental justice, and the active role of Afro-descendant women in preserving biodiversity and resisting colonial exploitation. Participants demanded that governments abandon oppressive policies rooted in colonialism and guarantee full societal inclusion for Afro-descendants.

Organized by RedAfros and the Coalition for Territorial and Environmental Rights of Afro-descendant Peoples, with support from international organizations, the forum marked significant milestones, including the UN’s International Decade for People of African Descent and the bicentennial of the abolition of slavery in Central America. It also highlighted the upcoming COP30 Climate Change conference in Brazil, where Afro-descendants aim to secure representation.