The introduction of the slave trade in the Western Hemisphere is a crime against humanity that is not time-barred, said Cuba.

New York, November 21, 2018.With the introduction of the slave trade in the Western Hemisphere, the former colonial European powers, committed a crime against humanity that is not time-barred and whose oblivion or ignorance would become an unforgivable historical error, said Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, Permanent Representative of Cuba, in the debate on agenda item 119 of the United Nations, entitled: “Commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. Programme of educational outreach on the transatlantic slave trade and slavery.”

The Cuban diplomat demanded that the great beneficiaries of the conquest and colonization, of slavery and slave trade, must assume their historical responsibility and compensation for the horrendous crimes committed. She supported the just request for compensation raised by the CARICOM member states; as well as the use of special and differential treatment for developing countries, particularly African countries, in their international economic relations.

She analyzed that despite the United Nations efforts, today almost 40 million people are subject to similar conditions of slavery, showing that the phenomenon is not a fact of the past; and expressed the need for greater political will for its total eradication.

Rodriguez Camejo stated that in Cuba arrived around 1.3 million Africans as slaves, who contributed to the formation of our nationality, culture and tradition of struggle. She assured that the Cuban people feel extremely proud of their African roots, from which they inherited the combative spirit, sensitivity, joy, strength in the face of adversity and love for freedom.

Currently, she added, the Cuban State, with the support and active participation of civil society, has developed a broad program in education and cultural promotion covering the entire country from the central levels to the communities, aimed not only at achieving the broadest dissemination and understanding of an issue that is part of its national history, but to maintain and consolidate the African cultural roots.

Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations