International bodies, especially the African Union have been asked to work towards the realisation of the Dakar Declaration against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The declaration, reached in 2001 at the World Conference also proposed that colonial powers apologised for violations, reparation and a political will for Africans to assume responsibility and a programme of action against racism.
Mr. Major Kobese, Human Right Activist said this at a conference organised by Pan African Strategic and Policy Research Group, (PASPRG) to review the Declaration after six years and develop an Action Plan for its achievement before 2011.
The conference brought together participants from Portugal, Nigeria, South Africa, and Guinea, among other African countries to review the Declaration.
Mr Kobese noted that although racism had gained a global dimension, less had being done by individuals and civil society to change the situation.
" Racism and other such issues continue to be a crime perpetrated against Africans and therefore much concern must be given to the issue".
He said other global issues like the September 11 attack engaged the attention of International bodies to the neglect of equally important issues like racism and colonialism, among others.
He said there were still much to be done both on the local and international front to catch attention for the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination to ensure equal dignity of all men.
Major General Shola Williams, Executive Secretary (PASPRG) called on Africans to stop depending on the outside world for help, which made them colonial entities to their donors.
" From the family level to the government are all dependent on the western world for their development".
He said that until Africans denounced the notion of poverty and act independently, in the struggle to succeed, it would always fall prey to the western world.
Major Williams therefore called on the African Union to accept responsibility by championing the course of Africa.
Priority action points of consensus reached by the African caucus noted that slave trade and colonialism were crimes against humanity and called for a corrective national and public policies with emphasis on environment and health care.