Statement by Václav Bálek, President of the Human Rights Council, on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Monday, 27 March 2023
at 15:00, in Room XXII of the Palais des Nations
Geneva

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to begin by thanking the organizers for the invitation and all of you for being in this Room today to observe the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

As President of the Human Rights Council, I am honoured to take part in this important ceremony. At this event we pay homage to our fellow human beings who were denied their humanity and forced to endure more than four centuries of shameful cruelty. At the same time, we recognize and praise the pioneers and those who combat slavery and defend freedom. Their courage and determination should inspire us to stand up against racism and all forms of injustice at all times, despite the risks we may face.

Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is one of the darkest and most shameful pages in the history of humanity. It is estimated that between 25 million and 30 million were violently uprooted from Africa for enslavement. This crime against humanity continues to affect the enjoyment of all human rights by people of African descent. We must make sure that we pass on the important lessons. This is why, beyond the commemorative aspect, this day should be a moment to think about the aftermath of slavery in our lives.

The Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, especially the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, played a key role in obtaining the recognition of this International Day.

The Human Rights Council continues to take meaningful steps to address the modern-day consequences of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. For example, in May 2021, the Council held an urgent debate and adopted by consensus resolution 43/1 on “the Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers”. Indeed, this was a major step in raising awareness and toward accountability. The subsequent report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 47/53 underlined that systemic racism is often rooted in histories and legacies of enslavement, the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and colonialism. It also says that there is an increasing willingness and emerging practice to acknowledge the need to repair the continuing impacts of enslavement. Effective participation of persons and communities of African descent, focused data collection, better understanding of the past through education and awareness-raising and ensuring meaningful reaction to human rights violations are among key recommendations on the way forward. This is a task for the Council but also for our colleagues at home as well as Civil Society. We need everyone to be involved to tackle these difficult challenges.

Moreover, last year, my dear predecessor Federico Villegas appointed five out of the ten members of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, which was created by the General Assembly in August 2021 and held its first session here in Geneva last December. The work of this Forum can be critical to strengthen the calls of the International Decade of Persons of African Descent (2015-2024) for recognition, justice, and development.

There have been many encouraging achievements. Still, we have a long way to go in order to bring our legal frameworks in line with the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. On the occasion of the anniversaries of these two historic declarations, we must reinforce our commitment to taking action to ensure that the future will be free from prejudice, stereotypes, and aggressions against vulnerable groups and people.

Here in Geneva, we will continue to gather every year to mark this International Day of Remembrance. We will also take steps to ensure that our discussions reach beyond these rooms, to give hope to all who continue to face racism or any other form of prejudice and discrimination in their lives.

Thank you.