The U.S. Department of State is pleased to acknowledge the 3rd World Summit of Afro-descendant Mayors and World Leaders taking place in Cali and Cartagena, Colombia, September 12-18, 2013. Assembling this international group of talented leaders will undoubtedly advance the social, cultural, economic, and academic goals of the summit.

We were pleased to learn that the summit will take place in Colombia, where we pioneered the framework of the U.S.-Colombia Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality to advance social inclusion and equal opportunity in both our countries. In this year, which marks the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, we in the United States are especially cognizant of the importance of advancing democracy and human rights for all people.

Whether the issue is land rights, governance, education, or economic development, the underlying principle that all people should have equal access to rights and opportunities forms the cornerstone of all democracies. The 3rd World Summit of Afro-descendant Mayors and World Leaders will undoubtedly advance these themes throughout Colombia and internationally. We hope this event will promote greater equality, economic advancement, and more meaningful and diverse participation of African descendants in the region and around the world.