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Baroness Amos commemorates British abolition of the slave trade

This Sunday Baroness Valerie Amos, Leader of the House of Lords, will begin the month of commemorations of the 200 year anniversary of Parliament's abolition of the slave trade by visiting slave forts in Ghana.

Born in the Caribbean and the descendant of slaves herself, this will be a personal journey as she visits slave castles and ports where tens of thousands of Africans were shackled and imprisoned before being shipped on the ‘middle passage’.

It is estimated that around 12 million Africans underwent this journey although millions did not survive the horrific journey to the Americas. Many of those voyages started in the dungeons along the coast of West Africa at Cape Coast and Elmina Castle which Baroness Amos will visit.

This is an important year. Britain was a major slave trading nation but also at the forefront of abolishing the evil trade. The 2007 bicentenary commemorations look at both these sides of our history and what they still mean today.

Slavery's impact was profound in Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and in Europe and contemporary issues remain both internationally and in the UK. Africa remains underdeveloped, modern day slavery still blights the lives of millions of people and, here in Britain, black and minority ethnic communities still experience racism and are more likely to suffer through social exclusion.

This is noted in the commemoration's theme: “reflecting on the past, looking to the future”. As well as celebrating Britain's leading role in the abolition of the slave trade, the commemorations also look to increase understanding of Britain's common heritage, celebrate the richness of our diversity and discuss how our values can help us to address these contemporary issues.

Baroness Valerie Amos said today:

‘We remember and regret the evil of the slave trade yet it is important to commemorate Britain's leading role in its abolition.

‘The 1807 Act is a key moment in our nation's history and a demonstration of how Britain has put its values of justice and liberty into practice.

‘Of course contemporary issues remain which is why we will continue to take action on aid, debt relief, trade and people trafficking as well as promoting equality and social justice in the UK.’

For more information:

UK based contact Ryan Heath 0207 276 0436

Ghana based contact Dorothea Hodge 07971 886681

Notes to editors

1. Baroness Amos has been Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council since October 2003. She was born in Guyana and became Britain's first black female Cabinet minister on her appointment as Secretary of State for International Development in May 2003.
2. She will be visiting Cape Coast and the slave castles at Elmina and Fort William on Sunday 4 March. Ghana's slave castles have been named World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and were established in the 15th century. Ghana will also be celebrating the 50 year anniversary of its independence in 2007.
3. The Government wants every community to be able to commemorate the Bicentenary, both at the local level and in larger and more public settings. A wide range of activities by cultural, faith and community organisations are already being planned. Local authorities and cultural bodies in Liverpool, Bristol, Hull, Birmingham and London and across the whole of the United Kingdom will all be playing an important role. The Heritage Lottery Fund has already awarded over 16 million to individual projects closely connected to the Bicentenary, with more awards to be made in the months ahead.
4. The Bicentenary will commemorate the lives and contributions of abolitionists and fierce critics of the slave trade and slavery. These include British campaigners like William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp as well as Africans who were sold or born into slavery such as Olaudah Equiano and Ignatius Sancho. More widely the commemoration marks the campaigns of men and women from all walks of life – most without a vote – such as church leaders, slaves and former slaves and many more citizens who signed petitions, marched, lobbied and prayed for change.

Tel: 0207 276 0436
Fax: 020 7276 0618

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