UNITED NATIONS: Reaffirming its full support for Africa's aspirations, Pakistan Tuesday contributed $20,000 for the construction of a permanent memorial at UN Headquarters in New York to honour the victims of the 400-year transatlantic slave trade.
The cheque for the amount, which totals Pakistan's contribution to $25,000 so far, was presented by Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon to Jamaica's UN Ambassador Raymond Wolfe, who is the chairman of the committee established to implement UN General Assembly resolutions to erect the memorial, at an impressive ceremony.
At the ceremony, the United Nations named Melba Moore, a famed American disco, rhythm and blues singer and actress, as a Goodwill Ambassador to raise funds for the $4.5 million needed for the construction of the permanent memorial.
More than a million visitors come to the UN Headquarters each year.
Ms. Moore, in a news conference after the ceremony, said she would concentrate on business communities, celebrities, and the media to get the word out and get it funded.
"I may raise my voice in song too," said the singer, who is also a Tony Award-winning actress.
In his brief remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Haroon spoke of Africa's exploitation by various continental powers, saying its life blood was snatched, its people forcibly taken away, with millions dying
in the process.
But, he said, the world did not shed a tear and it took very long time to address some of the problems left behind. Among other injustices to the 54-state continent, Haroon also pointed that 70 percent of the United Nations is Africa and it has no permanent seat on the Security Council.
The Pakistan envoy said that slavery might have legally ended but its legacy remains in one form or another, including economic exploitation. Initially, in the original phase, it was physical slavery, today it is economic slavery and it still continues, he said Pakistan was proud to be part of the UN campaign to recognize and commemorate the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
More important was to remember and teach the present and future generations to prevent this from happening again, he said. The memorial would not only serve as a reminder of the legacy of the slave trade but also provide future generations an understanding of the history and on the consequences of slavery and serves as an educational tool to raise awareness about the dangers of racism, prejudice and the lingering consequences that continue to impact on the descendants of the victims today.
Ambassador Haroon said that in Karachi's Lyari district is home to 200,000 people of African origin, the joyous group which adds to Pakistan's diversity. On his part, Ambassador Wolfe said that so far just under $1 million has been collected for the project, which he estimated would cost some $4.5 by its projected completion target of late 2012.
The Goodwill Ambassador post is in recognition of Ms. Moore's contribution to the arts, as well as social injustice causes, particularly in the African-American communities, Wolfe said.
Tete Antonio, Permanent Observer of the African Union, said: "We are pleased with the commitment expressed by both Melba Moore and Morgan Heritage to help us to achieve our objective of establishing a lasting legacy at the United Nations in memory of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. This is a significant initiative for all of humanity, but more so for Africans and for persons of
African descent."
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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