The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing global understanding of the history of slavery, enslavement and their enduring legacies.
The assurance was conveyed in a message delivered by UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General, Lydia Arthur-Britto, at the High-Level Consultative Conference on the Next Steps to the Landmark United Nations Resolution on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans.
Addressing participants at the conference, Ms. Arthur-Britto emphasized that historical truth remains a critical foundation for justice, dignity and reconciliation, particularly in efforts to address the lasting impact of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
She highlighted a number of UNESCO initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting awareness of this history, including the General History of Africa Programme and the Roots of Enslaved Peoples Programme, formerly known as the Slave Route Project. According to her, these initiatives support research, education, remembrance and international cooperation on issues related to slavery and its consequences.
Ms. Arthur-Britto also underscored UNESCO’s efforts to preserve memory sites, archives and documentary heritage associated with slavery and the slave trade.
She cited Ghana’s forts and castles, which are inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, as important historical sites that continue to serve as reminders of this chapter in human history.
She noted that remembrance, education, dialogue and international cooperation remain central pillars of the landmark United Nations resolution on the trafficking of enslaved Africans.
UNESCO, she said, remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at addressing the enduring legacies of enslavement while promoting human dignity, justice, inclusion and reconciliation across the world.
