DaQuan Lawrence of The Global Black Forum recently interviewed Her Excellency Dr. Epsy Campbell Barr former Vice President of Costa Rica and current President of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) and asked her about the MANDATE FROM THE AFRO DESCENDANT PEOPLE ISSUED TO THE PERMANENT FORUM ON PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT TO REQUEST AN ADVISORY OPINION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ON THEIR STATUS AS PRISONERS OF WAR UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTION.
Here is an excerpt from that interview:
DaQuan Lawrence (39:57): I wanted to know about the proposed idea from (International Civil Society Working Group Member) Siphiwe Baleka about petitioning the International Court of Justice to get them involved as far as into an advisory opinion to be able to hold the UN accountable to be able to move forward our social movement.
PFPAD President Epsy Campbell Barr (40:12): I totally agree. I’m going to sign the petition first because I know that this is the kind of things that we have to do. . . . The role of civil society is enormous. We as the Permanent Forum, without civil society, we are nothing. Almost nothing. Because we have an isolated voice inside the UN. Because they gave us a little money. They gave us a big mandate without all the tools that we need to achieve all the goals that they gave us but that’s I understand that the petition of Siphiwe Baleka is one of those things that we need because we need the International Court of Justice take our own reality as a reality to deny rights of generations….”
According to Siphiwe Baleka, “On June 26, PFPAD President Ms. Epsy Campbell Barr confirmed in a text message that it would be her honor to sign the Request to the International Court of Justice. “ Siphiwe Baleka has been involved in a four-year campaign to complete the unfinished business of Malcolm X and Imari Obadele, both of whom wanted to bring the case of Afro Descendants before the World Court. In addition to going to the ICJ, Siphiwe Baleka will be raising the same issues to the U.S. State Department July 12.
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The Global Black Forum Episode #2 w/Her Excellency Dr. Epsy Campbell, The 1st President of the #UnitedNations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. Dr. Campbell is the first Black woman elected to office of Vice President in the Americas and served as Vice President of the Republic of Costa Rica and Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2018-2022. ✊🏿❤️🖤💚 An economist, human rights activist and co-founder of Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC), the Citizens’ Action Party, Dr. Campbell ran for President of Costa Rica in 2010 and 2014. She has written books and articles on topics such as democracy, inclusion, political and economic participation of women, people of African descent, sexism and racism, among others. She is an expert on issues of social development, equity, political participation of women and African descent. A dedicated women's rights activist, Dr. Campbell has led several organizations including the Center for Women of African Descent, the Alliance of Leaders of African Descent in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Black Parliament of the Americas. In addition to her work in Costa Rica and with the United Nations, Dr. Campbell is also involved in Washington D.C.-based think-tank, the Inter-American Dialogue.