UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

60^th  session

Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

1 October 2025

EU statement

Mr./Madam Chair, 

The EU thanks the Working Group of Experts for the work carried out this year. 

The report you have presented provides a clear indication that there needs to be a new consensus on the issue of reparatory justice, to move ahead as a global community. Only through consensus can actions unravel. 

Fortunately, we are not starting from scratch. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action offers a clear framework on where to anchor our discussions. In those discussions, the European Union acknowledged and deplored the immense suffering caused by the past and contemporary forms of slavery and the slave trade wherever they have occurred. The DDPA also recognises that colonialism has led to racism, with consequences that persist still today. 

The EU is committed to transforming structures in society which are perpetuating these injustices from the past. States should provide effective remedies wherever relevant, and all States that have not yet done so should address their negative legacies. 

A new consensus could allow to advance on the issue of accountability, truth and memory, with a view to identifying and fulfilling responsibilities regarding appropriate redress and effective remedies for Africans and People of African Descent in Africa and throughout the African Diaspora. 

In addition to bilateral initiatives of its Member States to redress negative legacies of the past, the EU is committed in supporting African countries to reach their sustainable development goals and strengthen their economy. From 2021 to 2027, we are providing close to € 30 bn in funding for sub-Saharan Africa, about 40% of our total financial envelope for development cooperation. As stated by EU and AU leaders in May 2025, this work is carried out ensuring that experiences of Africans and people of African descent are acknowledged, respected, and meaningfully integrated into global development frameworks.

We look forward to continuing an inclusive discussions, which can seek consensus including views of all stakeholders. 

I thank you.