The contribution of the African diaspora to Portuguese society must be recognized alongside efforts to combat all forms of discrimination and violence against people of African descent, as highlighted today, a statement from the presidency reveals.
President Marcelo seeks to honor Afro-descendants who “invigorate and enrich” Portugal.
“Let us move towards a fraternal and prejudice-free coexistence, living as equals towards a more just and less unequal Portugal,” he conveys.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in 2023, the Afro-descendant population represented 6.1% of residents in Portugal aged between 18 and 74, with about a third (31.7%) having experienced discrimination.
Nearly three-quarters (72.8%) of Afro-descendants considered discrimination to exist in Portugal, and over half (55.2%) had witnessed discriminatory situations.
Of the 462,400 Afro-descendants residing in the country in 2023, 201,600 (2.7%) were first-generation, 238,600 (3.1%) second-generation, and 22,300 (0.3%) third-generation.
Proclaimed by the United Nations in 2020, the International Day for People of African Descent aims to promote and protect the rights of people of African descent, highlight their contributions to society, and recognize the richness of African and Afro-descendant cultures, reinforcing the commitment to equality, justice, and development for all people of African descent.
On December 17, 2024, the UN General Assembly approved the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, themed “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice, and Development,” which began on January 1, this year, and will conclude on December 31, 2034.
