NEW YORK, NY, December 17, 2007: The United Nations General Assembly today agreed to erect a permanent memorial to the victims of the 400-year Transatlantic Slave Trade, and oficially designate a day of rememberance in their honour, capping a successful Caribbean Community (CARICOM) effort to acknowledge both the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade and the millions of victims of the barbaric practice.

The 25th of March is now officially The International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The Resolution follows a strirring Cultural Rememberance held at the UN on December 14th, which included the Mighty Sparrow of Trinidad and Tobago, Taboo Combo of Haiti and Sonia Sanchez of the United States, among others.

Further information will be posted here in the coming weeks. A UN Press summary of the discussion of the Resolution follows:

Introduction of Draft Resolution

PAULETTE BETHEL (Bahamas), speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), introduced the draft resolution on the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade (document A/62/L.32), saying the resolution had a two-fold focus: to highlight the establishment of a permanent memorial at the United Nations for the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, and to recognize the establishment of the Permanent Memorial Fund, which had been set up to realize the memorial.

Moreover, she said, the draft sought to annually designate 25 March as the International Day of Remembrance for the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, starting in 2008. Linked to the accomplishment of the abolitionists, the Day would complement the existing United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, recognized on 23 August.

As racism and prejudice continued to “cast a destructive stain” on societies around the globe, the adoption of the resolution requested the Secretary-General, in collaboration with UNESCO, to establish an outreach programme to mobilize educational institutions and civil society, to inculcate future generations with the lessons of the transatlantic slave trade, and to inform them of the dangers of racism, she said. States should employ all strategies to combat the scourge of racism and to correct historic injustices. Noting the event last week organized by the Caribbean Community and the United Nations Department of Public Information to celebrate the diversity of the African diaspora, she expressed her delegation’s deep appreciation to the Netherlands and Spain for their support.

In a general statement, RAYMOND O. WOLFE ( Jamaica), aligning himself with the statement made on behalf of the Caribbean Community, expressed full support for the text, which would have the Assembly support the Caribbean initiative to erect a permanent memorial in the United Nations, under the theme “acknowledging the tragedy, considering the legacy, lest we forget”. Such a monument would be a unique opportunity to honour victims of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery. Against that backdrop, he urged everyone to consider the “profound significance” of the draft, which sought to honour and restore dignity to the victims. The tragic legacy of the slave trade remained, and States were deciding to establish an international day to remember victims. Such a day would galvanize “firm resolve”, so that such horrific acts were never forgotten or allowed to recur.

For that reason, the draft requested the Secretary-General to work with UNESCO to establish an educational outreach programme, which would inculcate future generations with the causes, consequences and lessons of the slave trade. Rather than impose a burden on the regular United Nations budget, the States of CARICOM had moved to establish a voluntary Permanent Memorial Fund, under Jamaica’s custody, for the permanent memorial. His delegation looked forward to the establishment of a committee and board of governors for the memorial’s construction.

ILEANA NUNEZ MORDFOCHE ( Cuba) said that the transatlantic slave trade was one of the most sordid, devastating and bloody chapters of contemporary history, and its tragedies constituted crimes against humanity. The insatiable appetite for profit of European traffickers, and the unlimited greed of rising capitalism, had affected an estimated 15 million to 28 million Africans. Deep material scars remained in Cuba from that reality in ancient sugar mills, coffee plantations, slave quarters and other facilities. Some 1.3 million slaves had also arrived in Cuba, and a complex “trans-culturation” process had led to the formation of the Cuban nationality, which was a mix of Hispanic and African heritage. Further, the action of slaves who had not submitted to their fate of exploitation marked the beginning of the spirit of rebelliousness and emancipation of the Cuban people.

She said that the slave trade was part and parcel of the merciless exploitation and impoverishment of the African continent, and the cruel discrimination that, for years, their descendants had suffered in the western hemisphere. There should be no doubt either that colonialism had led to racism and racial discrimination. It was with astonishment that her delegation saw that many of those who had promoted and benefited from slavery now ignored, justified, or, worse, purported to erase slavery’s sad chapter from human history. It was neither moral nor ethical that those who lived in opulence, due in part to slavery, now opposed any formula aimed at honouring those who had suffered under its effects.

While a first rapprochement and a critical assessment of slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity had been achieved in Durban, Cuba believed the international community should go deeper in assessing those issues, she said. Thus, it supported the draft resolution submitted by the Caribbean Community. It would also continue its cooperation programmes with the African, Caribbean and other third world nations as part of its efforts to address the consequences of the slave trade, colonialism and neo-colonialism.

MOHAMED FATHI EDREES ( Egypt) said that practices during the era had led to the loss of 3 million lives during the journey across the Atlantic -– the infamous Middle Passage –- whereas the 12 million who had survived fell captive to servitude and bigotry. Undoubtedly, the African continent had shouldered the greatest burden, deprived throughout the centuries of its finest youth and exploitation of its natural resources. That had contributed to its instability, poverty and marginalization in the global economy, inhibiting its ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Meanwhile, the developed world had failed to fulfil repeated pledges to help the continent within a framework of partnership.

Hesaid that despite steps taken to implement the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the world was still witnessing slavery, bonded labour, human trafficking and sexual abuse. States, therefore, should reinforce their resolve to eliminate the “modern symptoms” of that problem, especially xenophobia and bias against religions and beliefs.

Also important was to strengthen the Convention’s standards, while continuing preparations for the Durban Review Conference in 2009, he said, adding that such work should be done in a way that would restore trust between the North and South. Dealing with the parallel issue of migration in a comprehensive manner was also important, notably through promoting respect for migrants’ rights, on equal footing with other citizens. Efforts to encourage media freedom should be matched by prohibiting attacks on religions, prophets and the cultural particularities of others. Indeed, it was time for vigorous international action to confront racism, on whatever basis, he said, urging States to also intensify efforts to “eliminate this illness” in a comprehensive manner that took into account the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The representative of the Secretariat said that pursuant to operative paragraph 4 of that draft, it was envisaged that public information activities would be undertaken, including those for anti-slave efforts, in the six official languages. Such activities would involve additional resources of $43,800, under section 27 of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009. However, since provisions had been made, no additional appropriations would be required.

The Assembly then adopted the draft resolution on the transatlantic slave trade without a vote.