[WCAR] UNESCO celebrates International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

***Learn morea about the International Day for the Remembrance of the
Slave Trade and its Abolition, 23 August 2004:
http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/abolition-slavetrade-day.php


The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its
Abolition, August 23, will be celebrated at UNESCO Headquarters (Room I)
with a series of cultural events from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"The Day gives us the opportunity to reflect together on the historical
causes, processes and consequences of the unprecedented tragedy that was
slavery and the slave trade, a tragedy that was concealed for many years
and is yet to be fully recognized", declares the Director-General of
UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura in a message for August 23. "It not only
disrupted the lives of millions of human beings uprooted from their land
and deported in the most inhuman conditions, but it brought about cultural
exchanges which deeply and lastingly influenced morals and beliefs, social
relations and knowledge on several continents," he adds, before referring
to present practices of slavery, which "although abolished and penalized
in international instruments, is still practised in new forms, that today
affect millions of men, women and children across the world."

The programme of the Day will begin with a poetry reading by Solal
Valentin from Martinique (4 p.m.), followed by a concert by the group
Adjabel (4.20 p.m.) and D' de Kabal (4.40 p.m.).

A French association, Comité Marche du 23 mai 1998, will give a
presentation on the subject of "Understanding the 1804 Haitian
Revolution", followed by a debate (5.30 and 7.30 p.m. respectively).

At 7.30, Koïchiro Matsuura will speak in honour of the International Day
for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. He will also
preside over the closing of the exhibition "Textures ­ retracing the
tragedy of the slave trade" (Segur Hall and Salle des Pas Perdus Room).
The show - of wall hangings from Abomey (Benin) lent by the city of
Schoelcher in Martinique - opened on August 9.

At 7.45 p.m., in Room I, there will be a screening of the film "Sanfoka"
about the transatlantic slave trade, directed by Haïlé Gerima (USA, 120
minutes, English with French subtitles).

UNESCO's General Conference proclaimed August 23 as International Day for
the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition in commemoration of
the 1791 San Domingo revolt, which marked the first decisive victory of
slaves against their oppressors in the history of humanity.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2004 as International Year
to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition.


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