The Brazilian NGO Geledés – Black Woman’s Institute, founded and leaded by black women, has achieved this week a historic milestone with the announcement by the United Nations Major Groups and Other Stakeholders Coordination Mechanism (MGOS CM) of the official establishment of the eople of African Descent Stakeholder Group at the UN.
“The inclusion of this new stakeholder group represents an important step in addressing historical exclusions and ensuring that the voices, experiences, and leadership of Afrodescendants are meaningfully reflected in multilateral processes,” stated the MGOS CM in an official communication signed by co-chairs Rashima Kwatra and Oli Henman. This acknowledgement reinforces the global scope and impact of this new group, which will benefit Afrodescendant communities across all diasporas.
Recognized by the United Nations, Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (MGoS) serve as key civil society engagement mechanisms with international bodies. First established at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio-92) as part of Agenda 21, they aim to ensure civil society participation in shaping and implementing global policies. These groups actively participate in key UN platforms such as the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the Financing for Development Conference, the General Assembly, among others.
MGoS not only contribute official statements and policy recommendations, but also collaborate with UN member states and agencies to advance civil society priorities. They conduct independent reporting, organize public consultations and thematic dialogues, and host side events that parallel official UN forums.
Originally, nine Major Groups were recognized, representing: Women, Children and Youth, Indigenous Peoples, NGOs, Local Authorities, Workers and Trade Unions, Business and Industry, and the Scientific and Technological Community. Over time, the structure expanded to include other stakeholders such as persons with disabilities, older persons, the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, cooperatives—and now, Afrodescendants.
A Battle at the UN
Geledés first publicly advocated for the creation of theeople of African Descent Stakeholder Group occurred during the side event “There Is No Sustainable Development Without Tackling Racism”, organized by Geledés in New York in September 2023, recognizing its critical importance as a platform for the co-creation of public policies and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Since then, the organization has worked tirelessly to build this new stakeholder group, forging alliances with organizations across all regions of the world dedicated to fighting racism and promoting sustainable development. This advocacy reflects Geledés’ deep commitment to advancing racial and reparatory justice within global UN decision-making spaces.
In July 2024, Letícia Leobet, Geledés’ international advisor, participated in the session “Major Groups and Other Stakeholders Perspectives: Partnerships for Transformation and Urgent Action” at the HLPF, where she reinforced the urgency of recognizing Afrodescendants as a distinct stakeholder.
Later that year, during the Summit of the Future in New York, Geledés hosted the side event “Addressing Racism as a Central Issue in the Global Agenda for the Future,” in which Leobet once again advocated for the formal establishment of a mechanism dedicated to Afrodescendant communities.
“At Geledés, we have been active in several of the Major Groups and Other Stakeholders, such as the Women’s Major Group, the NGO Major Group, and the Major Group for Children and Youth, with the aim of ensuring that these mechanisms mainstream the racial agenda. This was a very important effort that led us to this milestone. It was a process of raising awareness that ultimately resulted in the creation of a dedicated stakeholder group for people of African descent. It is important to remember that this process was led and legitimized by civil society,” says Letícia Leobet.
After extensive and strategic efforts, this hard work has finally been rewarded. “We are confident that your engagement will enrich our collective work toward an equitable, just, and inclusive sustainable development. We look forward to close collaboration in promoting transparency, accountability, and meaningful stakeholder participation in global decision-making,” concluded the MGOS CM statement.
