Today across the globe is International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition.
The day, celebrated on August twenty-three every year, was set aside by UNESCO in 1998 to among other things, raise awareness about the horrifying nature of the slave trade that affected over fifteen million people for more than forty years as well as it’s imprecations.
International Day for the remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition, also observed in memory of all victims of the slave trade, aspires to promote critical examinations of such behaviours that could lead to modern forms of exploitation and slavery.
In his message to mark this year’s celebration, the United Nations Secretary- General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, said that the day calls for paying of tribute to the millions of Africans, who were torn from their homelands and communities plus standing up in solidarity against racism everywhere to build societies based on dignity, equality and solidarity.
Mr. Guterres frowned that people of African descent have continued to confront racial discrimination, marginalization and exclusion while political, economic and structural power imbalances rooted in colonial rule, enslavement and exploitation still deny equality of opportunity and justice.
For the president of the general assembly, Mr. Abdulla Shahid it is important to learn from history and listen to the stories of those, who were stolen from their homelands, children, who were snatched away from their families, daughters, who were raped, sons, who were sold, fathers, who were emasculated and mothers, who were tortured till they dropped dead urging all to raise their voices in continued fight against racism and prejudice around the world.
Lending his voice, the chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra State Council, Dr OdogwuEmeka Odogwu, who narrowed slavery down to Nigeria, called on federal government to evenly distribute the nations resources to all the nooks and crannies of the country devoid of religion, tribe, political and social class affiliation to totally nip in the bud, slavery in Nigeria.
Dr Odogwu, who lamented that some children are slaves in their father’s house through unequal love from parents or parent, advice parents to show equal love to their children to prevent them from feeling rejected which could lead to jealousy and hatred,that could culminate to violence.
This year’s International Day for the remembrance of the victims of slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade has “Stories of Courage: Resistance to Slavery and Unity against Racism” as its theme.
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