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Remarks by the President of the General Assembly, On the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade<\/strong><\/p>\n 25 March 2024\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n General Assembly Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n [As Delivered]<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The transatlantic slave trade stands as one of the darkest chapters in human history.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Over a span of 400 years, between 25 and 30 million people were forcibly uprooted, shackled, and transported from Africa to the Caribbean and the Americas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many did not survive the journey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Men and women and children were separated from their families, stripped of their identities, and robbed of their freedom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They and their descendants endured generations of brutal servitude, enforced by the lash of the whip.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade,<\/strong> we recall this history \u2013 and confront its legacy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And we reflect on the moral urgency of dismantling that legacy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We commit to laying the foundations for a more just future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One built upon respect for human dignity and human rights.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The transatlantic slave trade and slavery itself have been formally abolished.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And through waves of decolonization, the nations of Africa reclaimed their sovereignty and the right to chart their own destinies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet the stains of injustice are not easily erased.<\/p>\n They persist in policies and institutions that perpetuate systemic racism and oppression against people of African descent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Oppression that manifests in segregation, apartheid, and entrenched socio-economic disparities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must tear down these structures of inequality.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must strengthen and enforce laws that promote equity in housing, employment, healthcare, education and criminal justice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must implement policies that not only acknowledge historical injustices but rectify them and uphold the dignity and rights of people of African descent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And we must address the socio-economic disparities rooted in the exploitation of enslaved peoples by ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In all our efforts, we must remain mindful of history.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action establishes that the past, the present and future are inextricably linked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Slavery and the transatlantic slave trade did not occur in the distant past.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The legacies remain starkly present.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Education and remembrance are crucial to ensuring that we do not forget.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must integrate comprehensive histories of slavery and its aftermath into educational curricula worldwide.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For an informed society is better equipped to challenge prejudice and foster empathy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In December 2024, the General Assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This decade presents a crucial opportunity to confront the enduring legacies of enslavement and colonialism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To advance reparatory justice and ensure the enjoyment of full human rights and freedoms of people of African descent worldwide.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It also aligns with the 38th African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa, under the theme: \u201cJustice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Furthermore, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, known as the Ark of Return.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The memorial stands as a solemn reminder of the legacy of the slave trade.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It serves as a tool to raise awareness of the ongoing dangers of racism, prejudice, and the enduring consequences that continue to affect the descendants of its victims today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For far too long, communities impacted by historical injustices have awaited meaningful redress.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The time has come to support initiatives that foster healing\u2014whether through reparative measures, public acknowledgment, or community-driven projects aimed at reconciliation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The fight against the remnants of slavery must be global.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is only through collective action that we can build a world where dignity and justice prevail.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We all must combat and eliminate narratives that perpetuate discrimination.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We all must advocate for laws and policies that uphold human rights and dignity of all people, everywhere.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We all must work to build a future that universally upholds dignity and equality for everyone, everywhere.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We do this in tribute to Toussaint Louverture, Zumbi dos Palmares, Harriet Tubman, and Queen Nzinga of Ndongo.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the countless others who stood against oppression, and inspired abolitionist movements. <\/p>\n Whose defiance paved the way for independence, equality, and freedom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must honour their legacy by carrying forward their fight for justice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let us move forward with this shared purpose, mindful of our global moral and historical responsibility to take meaningful action.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To build a world where dignity, freedom, and equality are not just ideals, but lived realities for all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let us do so\u2014with courage, conviction, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity and justice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thank you.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Media Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser\/ Social and Digital Media\/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n More Information and Updates\u00a0: Website<\/a><\/strong>: \u00a0YouTube: <\/a><\/strong>\u00a0X (Twitter):<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/strong>: \u00a0LinkedIn: <\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Photo Repository<\/a><\/strong>: Bluesky<\/a><\/strong>; Weekly Highlights<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Mr. Philemon Yang<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/strong><\/p>\n