DECISION ON THE COMMEMORATION OF
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
The Executive Council:
1. RECALLS the celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slave Trade in the United Kingdom in 2007 and the current Bicentennial Anniversary of the end of Slavery in the United States;
2. COMMENDS the efforts of various Civil Society groups, Diaspora Communities and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the UN in this regard;
3. RECOGNISES the enduring and tragic impact of slave trade, which is a crime against humanity on the African people and its generations;
4. ACKNOWLEDGES the historic responsibility of Africans everywhere in the world to celebrate the abolition of slavery as part of its historical legacy in order to ensure that this tragic blot in human history is not forgotten and can never recur;
5. REQUESTS the Commission to convene an expert group meeting on slavery and the follow-up to the World Conference Against Racism, and to submit a report thereon at the next ordinary session of Council in July 2008;
6. FURTHER REQUESTS the Commission to use the outcome of the said meeting to prepare inputs for effective African participation in bicentennial events, the Special Session of the UN on Slavery and Racism and the African Diaspora Summit to be held in South Africa in October 2008 and to submit a report to the next Ordinary Session of the Executive Council;
7. REQUESTS the Commission to take the necessary measures to implement this Decision and to charge any expenses thereof from arrears.