– Advertisement –
The transatlantic slave trade may have ended long ago, but its effects still shape the world today, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday. He spoke during the International Day of Remembrance for the victims of slavery.
At the UN General Assembly, Guterres warned that racism, economic exclusion, and violence against people of African descent still exist. He urged governments to face the truth and take action to honor the past.
“For too long, the crimes of the transatlantic slave trade – and their ongoing impact – have remained unacknowledged, unspoken, and unaddressed,” he said. He criticized efforts to erase history and ignore slavery’s lasting harm.
“The profits from chattel slavery and the racist beliefs that supported it are still with us,” he added.
For over 400 years, an estimated 25 to 30 million Africans were taken from their homes, nearly a third of the continent’s population at the time. Many died during the harsh journey across the Atlantic.
Families were torn apart, and entire communities were destroyed. The trade was driven by greed and justified by racist ideas that continue to this day.
To remember those who suffered, the UN declared March 25 as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade in 2007. This date marks the UK’s 1807 law banning the slave trade, three years after Haiti’s successful revolution. Haiti became the first nation to gain independence through the actions of enslaved people.
Even after slavery ended, its victims were not compensated. In many cases, they were forced to pay for their freedom.
Haiti, for example, had to make huge payments to those who had benefited from slavery. This financial burden kept the country in economic hardship for generations.
Guterres said this day should not only be about remembrance but also about fighting modern racism and colonialism.
Guterres called on governments, businesses, and civil society to act against racism and discrimination. He urged nations to fully implement international laws against racial discrimination and uphold human rights.
“Acknowledging this truth is necessary,” he said. “It is vital for addressing past wrongs, healing the present, and building a future of dignity and justice for all.”
General Assembly President Philémon Yang agreed, saying that although slavery was abolished, its legacy remains in racial inequalities today.
“The stains of injustice are not easily erased,” he said. He pointed to inequalities in housing, jobs, healthcare, education, and criminal justice.
To fix these problems, he called for policy changes to promote fairness and inclusion. He also stressed the need to teach the full history of slavery in schools so that future generations understand its impact.
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Ark of Return, a permanent memorial at the UN Headquarters in New York. This white marble monument, designed by Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon, honors the victims of slavery and educates visitors about racism and exclusion.
Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka also spoke at the event. He said that while monuments are important, they should inspire action for justice.
“It is impossible to quantify reparations for such a global atrocity,” he said, emphasizing the need for strong symbols of remembrance.
He suggested creating a Heritage Voyage of Return, a journey following the old slave routes. This voyage would stop at historic slave ports, showcase African artifacts, and host cultural events.
Salome Agbaroji, a young poet from the United States, also spoke. She urged people of African descent to reclaim their history.
“Turn the tide, flip the phrase, to reclaim our personhood and our narratives… Your value goes far beyond the human labor you provide but lies in the vibrancy of your culture and innovations,” she said.
She supported Guterres’ call for better education on slavery and its impact, saying young people need to be informed and empowered.
Source: United Nations.
– Advertisement –
