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DPI/NGO Briefing The 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of
the Summary The DPI/NGO briefing on 29 March 2007 was held in Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, which was established last November by General Assembly Resolution 61/19. H. E. Mr. Philip Sealy, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, Mr. Ngonlardje Mbaidjol, Director, New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Dr. Sylviane Diouf, Curator of Digital Collections, Director, Schomburg-Mellon Humanities Institute discussed the United Nation’s efforts to combat slavery, which was recognized by the General Assembly as the worst violation of human rights, and the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade as the largest deportation in history, displacing 17 million people over four centuries. H.E. Mr. Philip Sealy commenced the discussion by explaining the strategic economic role of slavery in generating profits and advancing industrial development within the countries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, including Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Great Britain, the United States, and France. According to Mr. Sealey, while the proceeds and capital created from the goods produced by slave labour financed the industrial revolution in Europe and America, the slave trade acted as a destructive force in Africa that disrupted the economy by removing 17 million people and permanently disadvantaged the continent. However, Mr. Sealey revealed that despite enormous odds, people in the Caribbean region had successfully shaken off the yoke of slavery and indentured servitude that once plagued the region, overcome its “tainted legacy of colonization” which had initially left a lingering legacy of stereotypes and racism, and had achieved a high degree of economic and social progress. Despite the dehumanizing effects of the slave trade in the Caribbean, the fact that many remnants of African culture survived represents a triumph, Sealy explained. He described the Caribbean Community as a “model of people united in diversity” containing “harmonious cosmopolitan societies,” which should be emulated in order to promote respect for all races, nationalities, and ethnicities throughout the world. He noted that individuals of African descent continued to fight for their civil and political rights along with their economic and social rights in many countries, and emphasized that 200 years was not a long period of time in the history of world civilization, especially when compared to the 400 years during which the slave trade operated. He concluded on a hopeful note commenting on the socially tolerant climate in the Caribbean region and quoting the slogan “Every creed and race finds an equal race.” Mr. Ngonlardje Mbaidjol began by explaining that the first step taken by the United Nations to combat racism and discrimination was its adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, passed in 1965. He noted that slavery was the first human rights issue to stir concern among members of the international community. The prohibition of racism and slavery along with the idea that we were all members of the human race with the same rights had since become obligatory for all Member States, even those who had not officially signed the Convention, asserted Mr. Mbaidjol. However, he explained that racial discrimination sadly continued to perpetuate crimes and suffering in many regions of the world despite these safeguards. Mr. Mbaidjol pointed to marginalization and social disparities as the basis for fueling racism and highlighted that victims of slavery were usually from poorer groups who rarely spoke out and reported the crimes. He also listed the numerous crimes that were classified under slavery, including human trafficking, child prostitution, the sex trade, genital mutilation, the sale of human organs, and many others. Mr. Mbaidjol also described the role of the High Commissioner in alerting the international community on instances of slavery and explained that he recently visited night walkers in Rwanda, who were children who walked at night to refugee camps to avoid being abducted by rapists or militant groups. In conclusion, Mr. Mbaidjol emphasized that the battle against slavery and discrimination required the support of everyone if there was to be any hope of ending it. Dr. Sylviane Diouf discussed the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade from the perspective of a historian and declared that we were not celebrating 200 years after the end of the slave trade since the horrific practice was actually eliminated much later than 1807. Dr. Diouf explained that the slave trade was abolished only by the United States and Great Britain in 1807, but Spain, Portugal, and France continued the practice and slavery still persisted within all countries. According to Dr. Diouf, 3.5 Million Africans were deported to the Americans after 1807, which constitutes 30% of the total deportations. She explained that the British abolition of the slave trade represented a significant first step in combating slavery since Great Britain was the largest slave dealer in the world, deporting 3 million Africans alone. However, Dr. Diouf further explained that Britain’s abolition of the slave trade was rarely enforced and the slave trade continued de facto as traders continued to transport slaves to the United States under the guise of foreign flags, while those found in violation were usually pardoned. She stated that British manufactures even continued to produce shackles and chains used on slave ships. Dr. Diouf concluded by asserting that the 1807 abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade should prompt us to look at the past failures to enforce the law, hypocrisies, and turning a blind eye that sadly continued today. During the question-and-answer period, Dr. Diouf emphasized
that slavery was most widespread in the countries participating
in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade but also occurred throughout Europe
in non-participating countries. She also said that the selling of
prisoners of war for firearms to defend one's community against
the slave trade was one of the reasons Tutu and Franklin: A Journey Towards Peace, chronicling Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Dr. John Hope Franklin as they join a group of high school students in Goree Island, Senegal, the infamous former slave port, in search of new, international approaches to racial reconciliation, was screened at 10:00 a.m.. The briefing was attended by about 150 representatives
of NGOs, United Nations and Permanent Mission staff. |
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