A/HRC/51/54 Advocates for cultural rights and children should incorporate respect for those rights into their work, as well as promoting curricula that centred dignity for children of African descent. She noted that, without true decolonization in former colonial and current colonial societies, the administrators of justice and the custodians of children of African descent, including schools, would perpetuate unfair practices denying fundamental rights to children of African descent. 41. During the discussion, Ms. Henning advocated making changes in policing, recognizing that police were called to intervene in areas (e.g. mental health) not relevant to their training, equipment or mandate. She referenced research that the presence of police security teams in schools undermined a healthy educational environment, increased trauma and facilitated the transfer of children of African descent to the criminal justice system, but did not prevent mass shootings. Mr. Mezmur emphasized the importance of accountability and redress and noted that race, gender, age and class remained key indicators for children killed in poor neighbourhoods. Ms. Shepherd stated that history education must address the roots of white supremacy. She noted that education could reduce the impact of racial profiling11 on young Black boys, hair discrimination and other ongoing oppressions. Civil society representatives from Panama amplified the concerns raised about the right to cultural identity, including hair discrimination and the use of negative photographs and images of Africans and Africa. 42. The fifth panel, on the theme “‘We are the change we seek!’ child and youth of African Descent agency and activism”, was chaired by Ms. Ekiudoko, who referred to the celebration of Africa Day and recognized the indispensable role of agency and activism in their diverse forms in the lives of children and youth of African descent. Ms. Namakula emphasized the significance of Africa as the ideological home of the work of the Working Group. 43. Joanne N. Smith, founder of Girls for Gender Equity, United States, discussed agency and activism as a catalyst, using a Black feminist lens. She noted the importance of building the political power of young people and meeting them where they were in youth development. Centring the needs of Black girls and gender-expansive youth in policymaking was necessary for a racially equitable future. Compared with their white peers, schools disciplined Black girls 10 times more, suspended Black girls 6 times more and arrested Black girls 4 times more. However, every successful movement in history had relied upon youth. Young Black women had been central to the creation and sustainability of the twentieth-century civil rights movement in the United States. She noted that the term “incorrigibility”, a basis for juvenile detention, was a catch-all describing the ways that young people resisted race and gender “norms” and advocated for themselves and their own survival. She cited the case of an adolescent incarcerated at the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic for “incorrigibility” in failing to keep up with online lessons. 12 Girls for Gender Equity was championing legislation to end the labelling of young people as “incorrigible” in family courts. 44. Ramatu Bangura, Executive Director of the Children’s Rights Innovation Fund, United States, focused on the multiple and layered manifestations of structural oppression, such as colonialism, sexism and violence, as root causes of violations of children’s rights. She noted the importance of directly funding projects led, designed and funded in ways that were youth led. Dismantling systemic racism required intentionally disrupting single-issue funding siloes to maximize grantee flexibility and advance intersectional solutions to seemingly intractable problems. 45. Aisha Yusuf, a 14-year-old New York City Junior Ambassador, offered an intersectional analysis, noting that Black women and girls received assistance later than other victims of trafficking and were often further victimized by maltreatment within the justice system. The inequities in the justice system were gendered and racialized. She challenged the world to truly listen to children of African descent, taking action to protect their best interests. 46. Sorel Baines, a 17-year-old from Panama, discussed racial discrimination in school, including bullying and discrimination because of her natural hairstyle. She spoke as part of 11 12 See Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, general recommendation No. 36 (2020). A/HRC/45/44, para. 23. 11