Afrikadag 2024 Recap: Getting Rights Right
On November 16 2024, Pakhuis de Zwijger was transformed into a vibrant meeting place for those passionate about Africa and development cooperation. Young and old, international and Dutch, returning Afrikadag visitors and new guests all came together to discuss and learn about human rights. The central question of the day was: "How do we ensure justice for African countries through support of those who are fighting for human rights and democracy?"
In 20 diverse sessions, a wide range of topics were discussed. Many conversations focussed on those affected by severe human rights violations. For example, survivors from the Democratic Republic of Congo shared their experiences of the impact of conflict in the eastern region and discussed their vision for justice and healing. We also heard inspiring stories from individuals who risk their own safety to protect nature and communities from powerful stakeholders. African traditions have many systems for nature conservation. In the session on Western wildlife park models, it became clear that the protection of African nature is often not in the hands of Africans themselves, leading to what has been called a 'Green Apartheid,' with serious human rights consequences.
Democratization was another central theme. Democracy is the foundation for respecting human rights, yet for many Africans, democracy is still not a reality. Afrikadag highlighted the role of African democratization as an essential pathway to justice.
The day also facilitaded a critical conversation about the relationship between Africa and Europe. Can the new due dilligence law lead to fairer supply chains? Will African voices finally be able to take their place in international policy arenas? And what makes Europe a better partner for African countries today compared to Russia or China? In the House of Commons debate, Eric van der Burg, Marieke Koekkoek, Mpanzu Bamenga, and Daniëlle Hirsch engaged with young people about how the Netherlands should approach human rights. The Dutch Africa Strategy was also critically discussed by SG Christiaan Rebergen and philosopher Michael Eze, with sharp comments from the audience.
Jan Pronk reflected on 75 years of development cooperation and looked ahead to the challenges facing international cooperation, especially due to the announced financial cuts. How can we maintain our relationship with people who see the Netherlands as a partner for work towards a better world?
In the early evening, philosopher Pascah Mungwini and youth ambassador Faridah Luanda shared their vision for the future of human rights work in Africa. An Afrocentric approach, centered on the power of youth and women, is essential if we are to get the fight for human rights, right.
In addition to the substantive and essential discussions, there was much more to experience. The impressive performance by World of Afro showcased the power and emotion of African street style, while the fashion show highlighted the colorful side of African fashion, blending tradition and modernity. At the inspiration market, visitors had the opportunity to engage with organizations dedicated to human rights. Beautiful products were sold, and attendees could take photos in the style of Koré duga, African peacekeepers who use humor to promote reconciliation. In the hall, there were striking portraits of elderly Burundians, telling stories of conflict, healing and hope.
It is clear that human rights are still being violated in many parts of the world due to oppressive regimes, greed, and conflict. Concerns about political hardening and significant cuts to development cooperation in the Netherlands were also voiced. Despite these challenges, Afrikadag 2024 brought forward inspiring insights and hopeful stories in which community and perseverance truly make a difference.
We would like to thank all the visitors, partners, speakers, volunteers and artists for this amazing day. Thanks to them, the essential human rights work that activists and organizations do is receiving the attention it needs to remain determined in the fight for a just future. We hope to welcome you once again during Afrikadag 2025.
Photos from the day are available on our Flickr.