Women and girls of African Descent: visibility is dignity and power.

“Women and girls of African descent are not merely victims of an unequal system; we are also leaders, thinkers, writers, mothers, artists, students, lawyers, fisherwomen, guardians of ancestral knowledge — and anything else we choose to be,” said Franciele Silva, a Brazilian law student at the Federal University of Bahia.

The International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent, observed for the first time this 25 July, is a call to move beyond statements toward bold, transformative action, including investment in education, dismantling stereotypes, and ensuring leadership representation.

“This day serves as a way to make our struggles, our existence, and our contributions visible — things that are so often erased or silenced,” Silva said.

For Hanadi Saad Al Farhan, a humanitarian and community development professional based in Basrah, Iraq and former UN fellow of African descent, this day reminds the world that women and girls of African descent matter.

“Visibility is dignity. It is a call for recognition, not only of the historical injustices we have faced but also of the ongoing struggles with systemic racism, exclusion, and erasure,” Saad Al Farhan said. “It is also a day to uplift our resilience, culture, and contributions that are often overlooked.”

In Iraq, Saad Al Farhan explained, people of African descent are largely invisible in public discourse. International days such as this create space for them to speak their truth and assert their place in society.

Justina Obaoye-Ajala, an international human rights lawyer and senior fellow for Indigenous and minority rights and people of African descent, echoed this perspective.

“For far too long, the struggles, strengths, and triumphs of women and girls of African descent have been erased or sidelined in history, policy making and even mainstream feminist movements,” Obaoye-Ajala said.

“On this day, UN Human Rights not only honours their contributions to society but also recognizes the persistent structural inequalities that continue to marginalize them,” said Marie Joseph Ayissi, a Human Rights Officer at UN Human Rights and Secretary of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (WGEPAD).
Lived experiences

Silva, Saad Al Farhan and Obaoye Ajala, have fought for the right to shape their futures.

“My experience has been one of both pride and struggle,” Saad Al Farhan said. “I am proud of my identity and my community, but it hasn’t been easy. Afro-Iraqi women face deep-rooted stereotypes, and often we are expected to stay silent or invisible.”

Hanadi Saad Al Fahran, a humanitarian and community development professional based in Iraq. She is also a former UN fellow of African descent. © Iraq Leaders Fellowship Programme.


Saad Al Fahran said that even in professional contexts, women of African descent feel like they must work twice as hard to earn the same respect.

“One of the biggest challenges is that the discrimination is so normalized, many don’t even see it as a problem. This is why documentation, awareness, and solidarity are so important,” she added.

Silva, who was born in the Quilombo Rio dos Macacos, an Afro-Brazilian community, said that her experience has been marked by both resistance and hope. A quilombo is a traditional Afro-Brazilian community originally founded by enslaved Africans who escaped bondage and formed self-governed settlements. Today, many quilombos continue to uphold their ancestral lands, culture, and collective identity while advocating for land rights and social justice. Silva said that growing up in a quilombo taught her the value of community, ancestry and the fight for human rights.

 

Franciele Silva, a Quilombola Association Coordinator and law student based in Brazil. She is also a former UN Indigenous fellow. © Franciele Silva.


“At the same time, I face the daily effects of structural racism: invisibility, institutional violence, the denial of basic rights, and the constant effort to prove our legitimacy in spaces that were never designed with us in mind,” Silva said.

In China, Obaoye-Ajala became the first African lawyer to appear in Chinese courts. However, her work didn’t come without resistance.

Justina Obaoye-Ajala, a Nigerian international human rights lawyer based in China. She is also a former senior fellow of the UN Indigenous and African Descent Fellowship Programmes.


“I encountered structural and institutional pushbacks. These challenges were not merely professional; they were deeply personal,” Obaoye-Ajala said. “They revealed how race, gender, and migration status intersect in ways that amplify marginalisation, especially in systems not designed to accommodate differences.”

Whether in a quilombo in Brazil, a community in Iraq, or a courtroom in China, their experiences point to the global nature of overlapping forms of discrimination.

“Overlapping discrimination also known as intersectional discrimination, refers to the compounded and interlocking systems of oppression faced by women and girls of African descent,” Obaoye-Ajala said.

UN Human Rights notes that while women and girls of African descent have been at the forefront of movements for justice and equality, their contributions are often overlooked, even as they continue to face deep disparities in healthcare, education, employment, and the criminal justice system.

“


Overlapping discrimination is not simply ‘double oppression’; it is a matrix of structural injustice.
“

JUSTINA OBAOYE-AJALA, INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER AND FORMER SENIOR FELLOW OF THE UN INDIGENOUS AND AFRICAN DESCENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMMES, NIGERIA


Saad Al Farhan explained that in Iraq, an Afro-Iraqi woman may face job discrimination due to her skin colour and social stigma for speaking out or pursuing leadership.
From awareness to action

Saad Al Farhan stressed the need for intersectional policies that address race and gender together, calling for representation, safe spaces, and investment in education, employment, and cultural awareness. Obaoye-Ajala added that systemic change is essential, including legal reforms, data collection, support for Black feminist movements, and centring lived expertise. Silva agreed, emphasizing that Black women’s experiences must drive and shape the change.

UN Human Rights considers it essential that anti-discrimination laws are adopted and enforced, and that gender-based approaches are fully integrated into all relevant programmes, using disaggregated data to ensure policies reflect the lived realities of those most affected.

The Office supports this work by partnering with civil society, conducting research, and providing guidance to states. Through its Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent, the Office has trained over 160 change-makers from 50 countries, 72% of whom are women, to advocate for equality at national and international levels.

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“I deeply appreciate the work of UN Human Rights in amplifying the voices of those who are often unheard,” said Saad Al Farhan. “Their focus on human rights, anti-racism, and gender equality gives legitimacy to struggles like ours. When international organizations like UN Human Rights recognize our communities and stories, it sends a powerful message that our rights matter.”

For Obaoye-Ajala, the work of the Office embodies a powerful combination of visionary leadership and practical action.

“My experience with UN Human Rights has been both inspiring and affirming, and I am honoured to have contributed to its important mission,” she said.

Silva said that the Office builds bridges between marginalised communities and international mechanisms for protection and redress.

“The fight for equity must be rooted in active listening and the recognition of our power,” Silva said.
“May this day inspire us to keep walking together, building a future where our existence is not defined by resistance, but by full freedom and choice.“ FRANCIELE SILVA, LAW STUDENT AND FORMER UN INDIGENOUS FELLOW, BRAZIL