International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition: August 23, 2024
WILLEMSTAD - In December 2022, the Dutch government issued an apology for the history of the transatlantic human trafficking and slavery that occurred in various parts of the Dutch Kingdom. Last year, the Dutch King also apologized for the royal family’s involvement in these events. This is something that the United Nations officially recognized as a crime against humanity in 2001.
Following these apologies came the rehabilitation of Tula for his leadership in the 1795 uprising, during which a representative of the Dutch government declared that Tula was not a criminal in his fight for justice for the enslaved people of his time. Additionally, Dutch funds were made available for awareness projects related to the history of slavery and human trafficking. These funds are distributed among the Dutch Caribbean islands, Suriname, and the Netherlands. These developments have opened the door to actions that promote awareness, both through community initiatives and government efforts. At the same time, they have sparked controversy about the authenticity and completeness of the apologies, the extent and depth of the rehabilitation and funding for awareness, and how much can be achieved through them.
In 1998, UNESCO declared August 23 as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This date was chosen because, during the night of August 22 to 23, 1791, a revolt took place on the island of Saint-Domingue (now known as Haiti), which eventually led to the abolition of the transatlantic human trafficking. In this context, as in all its other activities, UNESCO aims to cultivate, sustain, and achieve peace. It also aligns with the United Nations’ declaration of transatlantic human trafficking as a crime against humanity. August 23 offers a chance to reflect on these historical events and to remain mindful of what still needs to be done to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
In this framework, there are regional initiatives like CARICOM’s plan to pursue reparations. As a recently associated member of CARICOM, Curaçao is also part of this platform. There is also the international framework of the United Nations, with its vision of healing the wounds of slavery and the slave trade. Various local organizations are engaged in awareness efforts surrounding these topics.
Let us remember that the recent developments are tied to many years of local activism and work within the Kingdom, as well as various regional and global frameworks that have addressed these horrific histories, alongside the ongoing efforts of different groups. Let us use this reflection to continue cultivating a culture of peace and to uplift our own community, with the intention of healing what needs to be healed from our history and celebrating what is worth celebrating in the strength and resilience we have demonstrated for centuries.