This Tuesday, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the General Assembly commemorated the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
In this context, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, highlighted the importance of this day to remember and honor the victims of one of the most heinous crimes in human history. He noted the importance of this commemoration in light of the alarming manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance that are observed today, especially in some of the most developed societies.
The Cuban diplomat pointed out that the legacy of slavery and the slave trade underlying the situations of profound social and economic inequality, hatred, bigotry, racism, racial discrimination and prejudice that continue to affect people of African descent.
He also said that reparations and full compensation to the peoples and groups affected by this crime against humanity was a moral obligation and historical debt, and held the developed countries that benefited from conquest, colonization, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, responsible for the extermination associated with those crimes.
In that regard, he reaffirmed Cuba's support for the just claim of the CARICOM countries for reparations for the damage caused by colonialism and slavery, and advocated special and differential treatment for developing countries, particularly Africa, in their international economic relations.
He stressed the value of international solidarity as the best tribute in the current context to the countries from which those millions of people were forcibly uprooted. He referred to Cuba's international cooperation with countries in our region and Africa, especially in the health sector, despite the obstacles imposed by the blockade, the inclusion of Cuba in the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism, and the fierce campaign of the current United States administration against Cuban medical cooperation.
In conclusion, he urged that the tribute to the victims of slavery be transformed into a permanent action to address the root causes of inequality, exclusion, racism and discrimination, and to eradicate all vestiges of racism and racial discrimination.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations