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Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 17:02:07 EST
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Subject: [wa-afr] NGO's Classify Slavery As Crime Against Humanity

Thema:  NGO's Classify Slavery As Crime Against Humanity
Datum:  24.01.01 22:55:41 (MEZ) Mitteleuropäische Zeit
Von:    GhanaUnion
An: [log in to unmask]


NGOs Classify Slavery As Crime Against Humanity

Some 170 Non-governmental organisations and representatives of African and 
international civil societies have recommended that slavery, slave trade and 
colonisation be declared as crimes against humanity.

The recommendation is contained in a document titled the "Dakar Declaration", 
which was adopted Tuesday in Senegalese capital, following their 20-21 
January forum.

The declaration has been forwarded to the African regional meeting, which 
ends on Wednesday after preparing the continent's position document for the 
world conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and 
intolerance, to be held in Durban, South Africa from 31st August to 7 
September 2001.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, attended the 
African conference, opened Monday by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.

In that declaration, the NGOs asked the African conference closing on 
Wednesday evening to "recognise and declare that slavery, slave trade and 
colonisation, of which the African continent and the diaspora suffered, are 
crimes against humanity."

It calls for the recognition of the right of Africans in the continent and 
the Diaspora to "fair and equitable compensation."

The position of the NGOs contradicts President Abdoulaye Wade's claim in his 
opening address the previous day that racism was no longer a "major problem" 
in the current world.

Wade shocked the audience by saying he personally disagreed with those who 
have been pressing for financial compensation on behalf of the black race, 
which suffered enormously as a result of racism.

This declaration was not well received by several participants, including 
some within the Senegalese delegation.

A member of the team preparing the conference's final draft document told 
PANA that the Dakar meeting could suggest the creation of a compensatory 
mechanism for victims of slavery and a compensation fund for development.

Wade's statement was also received with reservations by non-governmental 
human rights organisations, who have been pressing for reparations to blacks 
who suffered enormously under slave trade and slavery.

The NGOs urged all African states to ratify all conventions related with 
slavery, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and the arising 
intolerance and "to harmonise their legislation with the said treaties".

They also urged the African governments to take measures for the practical 
application of these laws.


PanAfrican News Agency  *  January 24, 2001  *  Dakar / SENEGAL
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