VICE PRESIDENT FRANCIA ELENA MÁRQUEZ MINA WILL HOST THE “ADVANCING ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT” SUMMIT IN CALI

Bogotá D.C., May 19, 2025 (@ViceColombia)

As part of the commemoration of the National Day of Afro-Colombian Identity and the 174th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Colombia, the Vice President of the Republic, Francia Elena Márquez Mina, will host the “Advancing Economic Justice for Communities and People of African Descent” Summit, which will take place on May 21 and 22, 2025, in the Baobab Center for Innovation in Ethnic-Racial, Gender, and Environmental Justice in Cali.

This space, which is part of the strategy to implement Decree 1188 of 2024, which assigns the Office of the Vice President of the Republic the role of interinstitutional coordination to ensure the social, economic, and cultural rights of the Afro-descendant population, as well as the mission of coordinating the National Government’s relations with Afro-descendant and Indigenous movements at the international level, will feature the special participation of the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) and the Equal Chance Foundation of the Global Black Coalition. Both are international organizations dedicated to strengthening and empowering Afro-descendant communities and the African Diaspora.

During the two-day schedule, which is taking place as part of the beginning of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2035) and in celebration of African and Afro-Colombian Heritage Month, panels, discussions, and workshops aimed at promoting economic justice, leadership, political participation, and ethnic-racial justice for people of African descent are planned to take place, encouraging the exchange of experiences, the strengthening of entrepreneurship, training, and the creation of networks that foster equity and inclusion.

Key themes that will be addressed include the development and economic autonomy of people of African descent; reconnection of the diaspora through the arts, culture, and entrepreneurship; intergenerational dialogues aimed at transforming the present and future of the Black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal, and Palenquero populations; and fostering business creation, innovation, and creativity for closing gaps for the Afro-descendant population.

International guests include Alphonso David, chairman and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum; Gwen Madiba, founder of Equal Chance and co-founder of the Global Black Coalition; Tynesia Boyea-Robinson, chairwoman and CEO of CapEQ; and Jasmine Mandat, co-chairwoman of the Global Black Coalition. Afro-Colombian entrepreneurs, leaders, youth, artists, academics, regional authorities, national government officials, and other groups will also take part.

Alongside opportunities for commemoration and knowledge exchange, there will be visits to the Bazaar of Afro-Colombian Identity “Culture, Entrepreneurship, and Tradition”, which will include a Biche/Viche tasting, an ancestral drink and cultural heritage of Colombia’s Pacific region. Furthermore, the LeadHer – Legacy Builder Award, honoring distinguished women of African descent, will be presented to Vice President Márquez Mina, with a special tribute.

Press Conference

Vice President Francia Elena Márquez Mina, alongside Alphonso David, president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum, and Gwen Madiba, founder of Equal Chance and co-founder of the Global Black Coalition, will hold a press conference this Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30 a.m., in the Cultural Center of Cali, to share the objectives and impact of the “Advancing Economic Justice for Communities and People of African descent” Summit.

For more information, contact Hugo García, press officer at the Office of the Vice President of the Republic, on the number 315-3068286.

We warmly invite you to join us.