United Nations General Assembly : Agenda item 122 : Commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade

Madam President, 

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Western European and Other States Group on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. I thank Ms. Djamila Taís Ribeiro and Ms. Taylor Cassidy for their testimony.

Madam President,

The Transatlantic Slave Trade is an unparalleled tragedy, which persisted for over four centuries and involved unspeakable atrocities and the cruel enslavement of more than 13 million African men, women and children, many of whom perished during the horrific journey across the Atlantic. The legacy of centuries of enslavement and exploitation reverberates to this day. It is our responsibility to share the countless stories and accounts of trauma of those who were forcibly taken from their homelands and sold as slaves. At the same time, we must also tell and honor the awe-inspiring stories of resilience and defiance of those who courageously fought against their oppressors and against the inhumane practices of slavery.

In order to fight slavery’s persisting legacy of racism, we need to continue to teach the history of slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade and their devastating consequences and long-lasting impact. This concerns all of us, young and old. Every single one of us is an agent of change that can challenge and put an end to racism and injustice. Transformative education is key.

In the same vein, it is critical that we also shed a light on the heritage and important contributions of people of African descent and pay tribute to their many achievements. We need to ensure that they fully enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Moreover, we acknowledge that racism against people of African descent is an enduring legacy of slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. We are committed to addressing the root causes of racism and taking concrete action to prevent and eradicate racial discrimination and to combat racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. Racial discrimination is an unacceptable affront to the human dignity of all persons, and we must therefore unequivocally condemn and eliminate racism whenever and wherever it occurs. We urgently need to address ongoing racial inequalities and injustices. To that end, it is critical that we renew our commitment to the full and effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination and other relevant international human rights instruments on combatting racism and racial discrimination.

Madam President,

The practice of slavery meant the shameless repudiation of the human rights of millions of persons. Today’s observance must therefore also encourage all of us to act in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose 75^th anniversary we celebrate this year. As the Secretary-General recalled this morning, Article 4 of that Declaration clearly states that ‘No one shall be held in slavery or servitude’ and that ‘slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms’. It is critical that we comply with our obligations under international law, including the Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery. We call on States that have not yet done so to ratify the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Trafficking Protocol and to effectively implement them.

Today, perpetrators continue to exploit and control adults and children, profiting by subjecting them to trafficking in persons, slavery, sexual exploitation, forced labor, forced criminality and domestic servitude.

We must step-up our efforts to eradicate all forms of trafficking in persons and modern slavery as committed to in the 2030 Agenda, including by addressing the demand that fosters these crimes. It is only by tackling injustice and fighting discrimination that we can build inclusive societies based on dignity and human rights for all persons, everywhere.

I thank you.