CASTRIES, St. Lucia – St Lucia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. June Soomer, be officially installed as the Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum for People African Descent next week,.
Dr. June SoomerThe permanent mission was formally established in 2021 as ‘a consultative mechanism for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders, to improve the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent’.
The Permanent Forum, also serves as an advisory body to the U.N. Human Rights Council in line with the programme of activities for the implementation of the international Decade for People of African Descent.
Last year, Soomer was named as its titular head, ahead of this year’s formal installation on Tuesday.
Then forum includes representatives from different world regions including the Caribbean Community.
According to Soomer, her mission is to assist in the dismantling of systemic racism that continues to dehumanize Africans and people of African descent.
She also said that she plans to relentlessly advocate for reparations and this will be pursued through lectures on reparations and research .
