UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC
AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)

"Issues of Memory: Coming to Terms
with the Slave Trade and Slavery"

Address by Professor Michael OMOLEWA
President of the UNESCO General Conference
and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO
On the occasion of the closing ceremony of
the 2004 International Year to Commemorate
the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition
and the International Conference
UNESCO Headquarters
Paris, France
4 December, 2004

Monsieur Le Directeur Général:
Monsieur Koïchiro Matsuura

Vos excellences Ambassadeurs
délégué permanents

Chers amis et Collègues

Eminents Participants

Mesdames, et messieurs:

C’est un grand privilège de me joindre au Directeur général de l’UNESCO, et de vous accueillir à la cérémonie de clôture de l’Année internationale de commémoration de la lutte contre l’esclavage et de son abolition ainsi qu’au colloque international sur <>

The story of the slave trade invokes passion, sadness and sorrow as it exposes the exploitation of man by man, the arrogance, deceit, abuse and dehumanisation, and the waste of human lives. The history of the trade itself is sometimes a source of endless grief and mental torment as we imagine the situation of powerlessness, voicelessness, torture and manipulation usually to serve personal and selfish interest.

We have testimonies of anti-slavery struggles, across the racial barrier, ethnic and religious divide and involving male and female, young and old coming together to say “NO” to the continued degradation of humanity. The United Nations declaration of Universal Human Rights emphasized the dignity of the human beings, and this declaration was followed most recently by the commendable decision taken by the United Nation’s 57th General Assembly, at the request of UNESCO, to proclaim 2004 as the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition. UNESCO very early has responded to the promotion of human right by its constitution, and through its programmes and activities. Thus as recent as the 32nd session of its General Conference, the member states had recalled the World Conference Against Racism, Racial discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban South Africa from 31 August –7 September 2001, which recognized slavery as a “crime against humanity”. And by its Resolution 28 it also recommended a variety of initiatives to combat these iniquities taking cognisance of document 32 C/13 entitled “development of an integrated strategy to combat racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”.

The General Conference of UNESCO has also moved further to support the proclamation of the General Assembly, by the adoption of another Resolution, Resolution 35. Yesterday the “travelling exhibition” entitled “lest you forget” “the triumph over slavery” and the presentation of the Toussaint Louverture medal are all part of UNESCO’s response emanating from that resolution.

The various meetings and seminars encouraged by UNESCO and its partners have also been in this spirit. UNESCO, challenged by that Resolution, has invited Member States, National Commissions, governmental and non-governmental organizations, the UNESCO Clubs and Associated Schools to participate actively in the commemoration of the International Year 2004. We are confident that the Director-General will continue the Slave Route project at least until 2007, the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

A lot thus has been done, but they are certainly not enough: there is the need to find out the true cause of slavery especially as we know that all forms of slavery continue to exist through out the world in different shape. It is reported, for example, that there are at least 27 million people enslaved all over the world. At this moment, millions of men, women, and children are also being held against their will as modern-day slaves. This perhaps where the quality improvement in education can assist. As the General Conference once pleaded, it will be necessary to embark on “the orientation of the entire educational machinery…..undertake a revision of textbooks, remove the much distilled racial poison in many textbooks that corrupts the mind and the emotions of the young children”. There is also a need to address the subject of attitude as some continue to be thrilled by the wickedness done to those who are by no means in a position to fight back and claim their right.

Mr Chairman:

Perhaps the decision of the United Nation to fight poverty, improve living standards and increase access to education will help weaken possible targets of recruitment for slavery and encourage resistance against the evil. UNESCO as lead agency for the Education For All recognizes that “The Right to Education is a fundamental human right. It occupies a central place in Human Rights and is essential and indispensable for the exercise of all other human rights and for development” As an empowerment right, education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalized adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty, and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities. None of the civil, political, economic and social rights can be exercised by individuals unless they have received a certain minimum education. The work of UNESCO in encouraging cultural diversity and respecting the intangible cultural heritage of the people are also aimed at the restoration of self-confidence of those who are possible targets of recruitment for slavery.

Collectively, as was the case 200 years ago, we must dig into our pool of knowledge to generate an in-built resistance against any attempt to deny anyone his or her fundamental human right. This is perhaps where the quality improvement in education can assist. Lasting and sustainable change can only happen when individuals and communities work together to equip people to fight the evil of slavery.

The search for a peaceful world will continue to elude us and I strongly believe that peace can come only when there is an environment of justice, fairness, integrity, freedom and respect. The General Conference shared this sentiment at its 5th plenary meeting of the first session of the General Conference on Friday 22 November 1946 when Mr Saiyadain, head of the Indian delegation to the General Conference, invited the world in his address to consider specific intervention to assist the poor and weak. I shall quote his statement because they continue to be relevant to the core mandate of UNECO which the General Conference endorses: “ignorance and poverty and disease and cultural backwardness are not domestic but international concerns and, wherever they exist, there is territory for UNESCO to annex and to serve through better education and the light of modern knowledge. I am reminded of a remark attributed to an old Greek writer who said that wherever there was a beautiful woman in the world he regarded here as a relative. I cannot pretend to emulate the magnificent audacity of this sentiment but I do strongly feel – and I hope I am voicing the opinion of the Conference as a whole on this issue – that wherever there is misery and deprivation and the lack of educational and cultural nourishment in the world, we should feel a sense of kinship with those who suffer and should strive to relieve their suffering.”

I wish to join all those who have identified with the sufferings of slavery and attracted by the courage and determination of those who resisted the evil, to congratulate Haiti for its effective and successful resistance which we are all marking this year. This should be a moment of reflection because slavery remains at the backyard.

I also wish you every success in your deliberations and I look forward to your conclusion and recommendation which I am sure will assist UNESCO to reflect the inspiration of the people of the world in its work in this 21st century.

I thank you and God Bless you.

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