Our Work



Implementation of the Decade at National Level in Ireland

In Ireland, the UNIDPAD specific activities started on 25 February 2019, at the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin where the Government of Ireland began engaging stakeholders and members of the African and African Descent Community to discuss the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (UNIDPAD) and its implementation in the republic. The Irish government initiated, convened and led a public consultation meeting with the African and African Descent Community and other stakeholders on 3 April 2019 at the Department of Justice Meeting Hall. On the 16 of March 2019 in a public meeting held at the Teachers Club in Dublin, the People of African Descent in attendance formed a Steering Committee to represent the African Community in discussions with the Irish government on the implementation of the Decade and to mobilize the African community and public in Ireland to support the UNIDPAD. The Steering Committee began discussions with the Government of Ireland through the Justice and Equality Department, to adopt the program for the Decade and its implementation to address issues affecting the People of African descent in Ireland as the UNIDPAD 2015-2024 requires. The Steering Committee has also engaged the African community in joint open public meetings in various Counties, asking members to engage their city and county councils and key public and private stakeholders to implement the UNDPAD. In December 2019 the Steering Committee made a presentation on behalf of the People of African Descent at the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination at CERD`s 2796th meeting, held on 10 December 2019 in Geneva, where the Irish Government reported on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), a United Nations convention that commits all its members to eliminate racial discrimination and promote understanding among all races in their states.



IDPADI Strategic Plan 2023–2028


Vision


The African and African Descent Federation of Ireland envisions a world where all remaining forms of discrimination and racism against people of African descent—and other ethnic, cultural, and national groups and individuals—are eliminated in Ireland, across Europe, and globally in line with goal of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024) and the upcoming Decade (2024–2034).



Strategic Objectives 2023–2028


Thematic Subcommittees focus on the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent in Ireland, in respective thematic areas. The Decade in Ireland has 7 subcommittees:


  1. Strengthen Organizational Capacity

    Consolidate the capacity of the African and African Descent Federation of Ireland to function effectively and lead the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-204 and 2024–2034).


  2. Mobilize People of African Descent

    Engage and mobilize people of African descent and their organizations to participate actively in implementing the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024 and 2024–2034).


  3. Engage Government Partners

    Collaborate with Irish national and local governments and their agencies to support and implement the goals of the International Decade for People of African Descent.


  4. Partner with the Community Sector

    Work with community groups, civil society organizations, and all relevant actors to promote and deliver initiatives aligned with the Decade.


  5. Engage the Business Community

    Partner with private-sector stakeholders to promote diversity, equality, and anti-racism initiatives, and to encourage business participation in implementing the International Decade for People of African Descent.


  6. . Advocate for the End of Discrimination for all

    Advocate for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and racism against all ethnic, cultural, and national groups in line with the Decade.

Steering Committee, Sub-Committee and County Committees


National Steering Committee

The International Decade for People of African Descent Ireland Steering Committee and County IDPADI Committees and Thematic Sub-committee are focusing on the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent in Ireland. The Steering Committee coordinates and liaises with Government and African Descent community and other stakeholders public and private for the implementation of the Decade. It also promotes initiatives of thematic sub-committees and regional counties and provides an independent voice on the implementation of the Decade in Ireland.



Current members of the Steering Committee

  1. Kudakwashe Mushaya (African Lawyers Association of Ireland) Co-Chair UNIDPADI Legal and Justice Sub-committee

  2. Benjamin Ropafadzo (B.L.) (African Lawyers Association of Ireland) Co-Chair UNIDPADI Legal and Justice Sub-committee
        DipSW,
        Msc Soc Sc,
        LLB(Hons),
        LLM (Hum.Rights),

  3. Sr Janet Nutakor (African Religious Association of Ireland)
  4. Sr Dr. Felicity Agwu Kalu (African Religious Association of Ireland and African Scholars Association of Ireland)
  5. Dr David Nyaluke (Secretary to the Steering Committee and Africa Scholars Association of Ireland)
  6. Dr Salome Mbugua (AkiDwA)
  7. Dr Phil Mullen (Association of Mixed race Irish)
  8. Jude Hughes (Association of Mixed Race Irish)
  9. Shola Mobolaji (African Social Workers Association of Ireland)
  10. Dr Egide Dhala (from Wezesha)
  11. Emmanuel Njume (African Advocacy Network of Ireland)



UNIDPADI County Committees

Region (County) Committees coordinate the implementation of the Decade in respective regions/ counties in Ireland and reports to the Steering Committee. They are comprised of volunteers from the counties who would like their counties to implement the Decade. So far most members have come those who participated in meetings organized UNIDPADI County Meeting that have been organized by the Steering Committee, such as the regional meetings held in 2020 in Cork, Portlaise Galway, Limerick and Dublin. The Steering Committee is looking for volunteers from all counties to come forward and promote the implementation of the Decade in their counties.


Thematic Sub-Committees(Education, Employment etc)


Thematic Subcommittees focus on the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent in Ireland, in respective thematic areas. The Decade in Ireland has 7 subcommittees:


  1. Justice and Legal subcommittee chaired by Benjamin Ropafadzo and co-chaired by Kudakwashe Mushaya
  2. Employment and business subcommittee chaired by David Nyaluke and Winfred Akinyemi
  3. Education Subcommittee chaired by Dr Phil Mullen
  4. Health, welfare and wellbeing subcommittee chaired by Emmanuel Njume
  5. Civic, Social, Political and Media Representation Subcommittee chaired by Dr Salome Mbugua and Egide Dhala.
  6. Children, Youth and Parents Subcommittee chaired by Sola Mobolaji and Dr Sr Felicity Kalu Agwu and Sr Janet Nutakor are members from Steering Committee.
  7. African Heritage, Art and Culture Subcommittee chaired by Jude Hughes.



Implementation of the Decade at International level

The United Nations and international and regional organizations implement programmes and projects within their areas of competence these are tailored to combat racism an racial discrimination against people of African Descent, with particular emphasis on the Durban declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination(CERD). On appointment by the UN General Assembly, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights monitors and coordinates the implementation of the of the International Decade for People of African Descent at international level The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination(CERD) with headquarters in Geneva , consisting of independent experts has been constituted to monitor the implementation of the International Convention on Elimination of All forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) by State parties, who are accountable to the Committee. The Committee implements actions towards the realization of the objectives of the Decade, including the adoption of General Recommendation No.36 on Preventing and Combating racial profiling, on 24 November 2020 All members states of UN including Ireland reports to CERD on their implementation of the Decade.