Press Release: UN General Assembly Program to Commemorate International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Introduction
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will host a program on March 25, 2024, to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The event, which takes place at 10:00 am (AST/Eastern Caribbean), will be held at the General Assembly Hall in New York and will be live-streamed on UWI’s public information platform, UWItv Global.
Background
The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed annually on March 25, since 2007. The day is dedicated to honouring and remembering the victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which enslaved over 13 million Africans for more than 400 years. The day also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice.
Bio of Vice-Chancellor Hilary Beckles
Vice-Chancellor Hilary Beckles is a renowned global public activist in social justice and minority empowerment. He is also the Chairman of the Caribbean Community [CARICOM] Commission on Reparation and Social Justice and a United Nations committee official. His life’s work has been dedicated to the reparatory justice conversation. In 2013, he coordinated the policy positions of Caribbean governments on reparatory justice, established The UWI’s Centre for Reparation Research, served as an associate member of the University College London’s Legacies of British Slave-ownership research project, and the University of Hull’s Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery and Emancipation. He also represented Barbados and led the Caribbean NGO delegation at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. He is the author of Britain’s Black Debt, the first scholarly work that looks comprehensively at the reparations discussion in the Caribbean.
Event Highlights
The program will feature a keynote address by Vice-Chancellor Hilary Beckles under the 2024 remembrance theme, “Creating Global Freedom: Countering Racism with Justice in Societies and Among Nations,” which will set out the narrative that captures the rise of reparations from a network of spontaneous local moments to a highly organized global movement.
The program will also feature a message by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, an address from President of the General Assembly and UWI alum, His Excellency Dennis Francis, as well as remarks by the designated youth speaker, Yolanda Renee King, author and granddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Quote from Vice-Chancellor Beckles
“It is always an honour to address the UN General Assembly. I wish to thank Secretary-General Gutteres for this recognition. But to speak with the President of the Assembly, Ambassador Francis, a UWI alumnus, in the chair is special and priceless,” said Vice-Chancellor Beckles.
Conclusion
The UNGA commemoration event for the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade will be carried live on UN WebTV and via www.uwitv.global, the UWItv Facebook page, and on UWItv’s Flow and HubTV cable channels.
FAQs
- When is the event? The event will take place on March 25, 2024, at 10:00 am (AST/Eastern Caribbean).
- What is the purpose of the event? The purpose of the event is to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, honor and remember the victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice.
- Who will be featured at the event? The event will feature a keynote address by Vice-Chancellor Hilary Beckles, a message by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, an address by President of the General Assembly and UWI alum, His Excellency Dennis Francis, as well as remarks by designated youth speaker, Yolanda Renee King.
- How can I watch the event? The event will be carried live on UN WebTV and via www.uwitv.global, the UWItv Facebook page, and on UWItv’s Flow and HubTV cable channels.