United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/69/19

Sixty-ninth session

Agenda item 116

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 61/19 of 28 November 2006, entitled “Commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade”, and subsequent resolutions entitled “Permanent memorial to and remembrance of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade”,

Recalling also the designation of 25 March as the annual International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade,

Recognizing how little is known about the transatlantic slave trade and its lasting consequences, felt throughout the world, and welcoming the increased attention that the annual commemoration by the General Assembly has brought to the issue, including raising awareness in many States,

Noting the initiatives undertaken by States in reaffirming their commitment to implement paragraphs 101 and 102 of the Durban Declaration of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, aimed at countering the legacy of slavery and contributing to the restoration of the dignity of the victims of slavery and the slave trade,

Recalling, in particular, paragraph 101 of the Durban Declaration, which, inter alia, invited the international community and its members to honour the memory of the victims,

Recalling also its resolution 68/237 of 23 December 2013, by which it proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent, from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2024, and its resolution 69/16 of 18 November 2014, in which it adopted the programme of activities for the Decade,

Stressing the importance of educating and informing current and future generations about the causes, consequences and lessons of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade,

Recalling that the permanent memorial initiative complements the work being done at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the Slave Route Project, the twentieth anniversary of which is commemorated in 2014,

1. Endorses the initiative of Member States to erect, at a place of prominence at United Nations Headquarters that is easily accessible to delegates, United Nations staff and visitors, a permanent memorial in acknowledgement of the tragedy and in consideration of the legacy of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade;

2. Recalls the establishment of a committee of interested States to oversee the permanent memorial project, drawn from all geographical regions of the world, with Member States from the Caribbean Community and the African Union playing a primary role, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, representatives of the Secretariat and civil society;

3. Also recalls the establishment of a trust fund account for the permanent memorial, referred to as the United Nations Trust Fund for Partnerships — Permanent Memorial, administered by the United Nations Office for Partnerships, and notes the current status of contributions to the Trust Fund;

4. Expresses sincere appreciation to those Member States, organizations and individuals that have made contributions to the Trust Fund;

5. Recognizes the necessity of sustained voluntary contributions in order to achieve in a timely manner the goal of erecting a permanent memorial in honour of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, and in this regard, encourages Member States and other interested parties to make further voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund;

6. Decides that the United Nations will incorporate the memorial within the existing United Nations Headquarters campus, on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent, also decides that any funds remaining in the Trust Fund will be retained to support the maintenance of the memorial, and welcomes efforts to continue to solicit voluntary contributions in this regard;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to organize a series of activities annually to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, including a commemorative meeting of the General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters and, as appropriate, activities through the network of United Nations information centres;

8. Requests the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate steps to enhance world public awareness of the commemorative activities and the permanent memorial at United Nations Headquarters;

9. Reiterates its request, in resolution 64/15 of 16 November 2009, for Member States to develop, in accordance with their national legislation, educational programmes, including through school curricula, designed to educate and inculcate in future generations an understanding of the lessons, history and consequences of slavery and the slave trade, and to provide such information to the Secretary-General for inclusion in his report;

10. Notes with satisfaction the selection of the design “Ark of Return” as the model for the permanent memorial and the ongoing construction of the memorial, scheduled for completion during the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly;

11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the programme of educational outreach on the transatlantic slave trade and slavery relating to the diverse educational outreach strategy to increase awareness of and to educate future generations about the causes, consequences, lessons and legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice, and encourages continued action in this regard;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventieth session on continued action to implement the programme of educational outreach, including actions taken by Member States in implementing the present resolution, as well as steps to enhance world public awareness of the commemorative activities and the permanent memorial;

13. Requests the United Nations Office for Partnerships, through the Secretary-General, to submit a comprehensive report to the General Assembly at its seventieth session on the status of the Trust Fund and, in particular, on contributions received and their utilization;

14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session the item entitled “Follow-up to the commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade”.

58th plenary meeting 21 November 2014