Download Draft - Department of Conferences and Meetings Management

DRAFT
COMMEMORATION OF THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABOLITION OF THE
TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
Reaffirming the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man which declares that
“all men are born free and equal, in dignity and in rights and being endowed by nature with reason
and conscience, they should conduct themselves as brothers one to another;”
Recalling Article 45 (a) of the Charter of the OAS that states “All human beings, without
distinction as to race, sex, nationality, creed, or social condition, have a right to material well-being
and to their spiritual development, under circumstances of liberty, dignity, equality of opportunity,
and economic security.”
(Brazil) Recalling Article 45 (a) of the Charter of the OAS that states “All human beings,
without distinction as race, sex, nationality, creed, or social condition, have a right to material wellbeing and to their spiritual development, under circumstances of liberty, dignity, equality of
opportunity, and economic security.”
(Brazil) Recalling that Slavery and the slave trade were declared a crime against humanity by
the Regional Conference of the Americas, held in Santiago de Chile from 5 to 7 December 2000, and
by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to September 2001,
Recognizing that the insidious practice of the transatlantic slave trade which included the
forced transportation of millions of Africans as slaves, mostly from West Africa to the Americas and
in particular to Brazil, The United States of America and the Caribbean between the fifteenth and late
nineteenth centuries, caused indescribable hardship to Africans and their descendants,
(Brazil) Recognizing that the insidious practice of the transatlantic slave trade which included
the forced transportation of millions of Africans as slaves, mostly from West Africa to the Americas
between the fifteenth and late nineteenth centuries, caused indescribable hardship to Africans and
their descendants,
-2-
(United States) Recognizing that the insidious practice of the transatlantic slave trade which
included the forced transportation of millions of Africans as slaves, mostly from West Africa to the
Americas between the fifteenth and late nineteenth centuries, caused indescribable hardship to
Africans and their descendants,
(RATIONALE: Tens of thousand of slaves were sent to the Andean nations, many via
Panama to Peru and beyond, or north from River Plate ports. Naming only three destinations seems
to lessen the horrible impact of slavery in the Americas.)
Acknowledging that slavery, with its untold horrors and unimaginable suffering, was
promulgated for profit, enriched the imperial powers, and resulted in a legacy of social and economic
inequality, hatred, bigotry and prejudice and racism.
(United States) Acknowledging that slavery, with its untold horrors and unimaginable
suffering, resulted in a legacy of social and economic inequality, hatred, bigotry and prejudice and
racism. . (RATIONALE: The U.S. believes this phrase detracts from the powerful statement here and
would suggest that not only the imperial powers enriched themselves. All who perpetrated this crime
profited from it.)
Recognizing the sacrifices and honoring the memories of those who died while journeying to
freedom, including those who survived the horrors of the “Middle Passage” experience and sought to
fight the vestiges of slavery.
(United States) Bearing in mind that in some regions of the world, slavery or conditions
equivalent to slavery, such as trafficking in persons, continue to persist; (RATIONALE: Slavery still
exists)
Appreciating the contributions made by those men and women who in spite of such extreme
adversity rose above their circumstances to effect positive change in their various generations,
considering that the legacy bequeathed to them was hardly auspicious, or even designed to encourage
excellence or inspire greatness;
-3-
Acknowledging the efforts of member states that work to mitigate the effects of slavery.
Bearing in mind that the global community, including the Americas must and should do more
to ensure that this crime against humanity is never forgotten and more importantly never repeated.
(United States) Deeply concerned that it has taken the international community, including
the Americas, almost two hundred years to acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade are a crime
against humanity and should always have been so;(RATIONALE: From 2006 UNGA).
(Canada) Bearing in mind that the global community, including the Americas must and
should do more to ensure that the transatlantic slave, which should have always been recognize as a
crime against humanity is never forgotten and more importantly never repeated. (RATIONALE:
Canada has concerns that the current text may be characterizing the transatlantic slave trade as a
crime against humanity at the time it occurred. Canada does believe that the transatlantic slave trade
was morally repugnant and is a stain on the fabric of history; that widespread and systematic
enslavement directed against a civilian population today constitutes a crime against humanity; and if
the transatlantic slave trade occurred today it would constitute a crime against humanity. However, it
is our understanding that under international law there is no right to a remedy for historical acts that
were not illegal at the time at which they occurred. )
Noting that two hundred years ago, the transatlantic slave trade was abolished and that this
act helped to hasten the abolition of slavery.
(Jamaica) "Noting also that the United Nations has designated March 25, 2007 as the
International Day for the Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of the
Transatlantic Slave Trade".
RESOLVES:
1.
To designate March 25, 2007, as the International Day for the Commemoration of
the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
-4-
(United States) To designate March 25, 2007, as the Inter American Day for the
Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave
Trade. (RATIONALE: OAS declares “Inter-American” commemorations, UN does “international,”
right?)
(Argentina)To Join the UN General Assembly resolution 61/19 that designates March 25th
2007 as the International Day for the Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of
the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and to designate this date as an Inter-American Day.
2.
To convene on March 28, 2007, an Extraordinary Meeting
of the Permanent
Council to commemorate the Two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave
trade.
(United States) To convene on March 28, 2007, a Special Session of the Permanent Council
to commemorate the Two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
(RATIONALE: Isn’t this the more accepted terminology? Just asking.)
3.
To urge member states to continue implementing measures that are geared towards
mitigating the residual effects and consequences of the slave trade such as social exclusion, economic
exploitation and inequality.
4.
To urge member states to develop programs and activities, particularly educational
programs at the primary and secondary levels that are designed to foster an environment of tolerance
in its citizens and an understanding of the consequences of slavery and the significance of the
abolition of the slave trade.
(Canada) To urge member states to develop programs and activities, particularly educational
programs at the primary and secondary levels that are designed to foster an environment of respect
for diversity and acceptance in its citizens and an understanding of the consequences of slavery and
the significance of the abolition of the slave trade.
-5-
(Jamaica) To urge member states to develop programs and activities, particularly
educational programs at the primary and secondary levels that are designed to foster an environment
of tolerance in its citizens and an understanding of the consequences of slavery and the significance
of the slave trade.
5.
(United States) To call on member states to prevent, punish and eliminate all forms
of modern-day slavery, including trafficking in persons. (RATIONALE: In addition to looking back,
we feel it would be prudent to express our repudiation for contemporary forms of slavery.)
6.
To encourage member states to work cooperatively to conclude the discussions and
negotiations on the Draft Inter-American Convention against Racism and all forms of Discrimination
and Intolerance.
(United States) To encourage participating
member states to work cooperatively to
conclude the discussions and negotiations on the Draft Inter-American Convention against Racism
and all forms of Discrimination and Intolerance.. (RATIONALE: The U.S. does not participate in
these discussions.)
7.
To request the General Secretariat through its Department of Press and
Communication to commemorate the abolition of the slave trade through radio broadcasts on eminent
citizens of the Americas who made significant contributions to the abolition of the slave trade and
slavery.
8.
To request the General Secretariat through its Committee on Inter-American Summits
Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities to promote awareness of the
significance of the Two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade
particularly among civil society groups that focus on issues affecting Afro-Descendants and to
encourage activities commemorating the event.
(Canada) We would like to seek clarification as to the language "to encourage (CSOs)
activities commemorating the event".
-6-
(United States) To request the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and
Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities to promote awareness of the significance of the Twohundredth anniversary of the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade particularly among civil society
groups that focus on issues affecting Afro-Descendants and to encourage activities commemorating
the event. (RATIONALE: The CISC is an organ of the Permanent Council. We do not have to
request the Secretariat.)
CPSC03294E05