Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, while addressing the fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD4) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, called for a global plan to repair the long-lasting effects of colonialism, slavery, and racism. Márquez also proposed the creation of an international fund to support this work.
This year’s Forum is being held from 14 to 17 April under the theme “Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence.” The focus is on how to achieve justice while ensuring that new technologies like AI do not continue to reflect or worsen old patterns of racism and inequality.
UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang said the theme is especially important now, as it encourages the world to face historical wrongs and stop future harm. Earle Courtenay Rattray, speaking on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, said racism still harms lives today. He warned that even AI can carry the same biases that have caused centuries of unfair treatment, with too much power remaining in the hands of a few.
Rattray urged countries to honour promises made in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – a key plan to fight racism and promote fairness and equality.
Vice President Márquez shared that Colombia remains one of Latin America’s most unequal countries. To change this, her government created a Ministry of Equality and Equity to protect the rights of excluded groups. She also noted that Colombia has taken steps to enforce Law 70 of 1993, which defends the rights of Afro-Colombian communities.
The Forum also explores how AI can support racial justice by creating fairer systems and holding institutions accountable. There is growing urgency to ensure new technology helps reduce inequality rather than repeat the injustices of the past.
