Sport and the international day for the remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition

On the celebration of the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, SIGA acknowledges Sport still has a long way to go in terms of securing equal and fair treatment for all involved in the industry.

On this very important day, Brian Lewis, Chair, SIGA Gender Race Inclusion and Diversity Standing Committee (SIGA GRID), and President, Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) leaves an important message for all Sport Integrity friends.

“As we celebrate the International Day for the remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition, it seems as a celebration of the freedom of enslaved people and the celebration of human rights.

It is an important acknowledgement for SIGA and Gender Race Inclusion and Diversity (GRID) Standing Committee because the slave trade and its remembrance provide very important historical lessons. It is said those who don’t learn from History will repeat it.

The pillars of the international slave trade, mass human trafficking, degrading economic transactions and unspeakable and horrific human rights violations serve as a timely reminder. SIGA currently battles and wages advocacy to eliminate human trafficking, illegal gambling and modern versions of economic slavery that have been manifesting itself in the world of sport.

It is very important that, from the perspective of SIGA and its’ GRID Committee, we constantly look in the mirror and learn from the history of the slave trade and its abolition.

On the night of the 22nd to the 23rd of August 1791 in Saint Dominic today, the Republic of Haiti, an uprising began, which set forth events which were a major factor in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

The road to a world free from racism, prejudice, and a path to equal and just societies begins with the recognition of the consequences of the end of the slave trade and it’s impact, on Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.

The most enduring legacy of the transatlantic slave trade is racism, and the political, economic and structural benefits that were earned and gained by the colonial powers of Western Europe from slavery and colonialism. And if we want to strive for a world that is just and equal, and that is rooted in dignity for all, we must recognise and embrace the reality that Sport does not exist in a vacuum and that Sport is a reflection and a microcosm of our societies.”

Taylor Green, Chair of the SIGA Youth Council, Member of SIGA GRID and of SIGA Council, emphasizes the need to learn from History:

“On this day, and every day, we honor the lives, memories, and legacies of enslaved people throughout the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and their descendants across the African Diaspora. We remain resolute in speaking truth about the unconscionable atrocities committed and recognize that to fully remember the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the abolition of slavery, we must learn its history, however uncomfortable it can be. We amplify those in the tradition of emancipatory and liberation practices of the past, present, and future, and we recommit to working toward a more inclusive and equitable society in sport and beyond, to ensure we never repeat the horrors of the past.

As agents of disinformation and threats to democratic institutions are on the rise, the necessity for integrity is more vital than ever. Led by the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) President, Brian Lewis, a fearless fighter for the dignity and rights of all in sport, the Standing Committee on Gender, Race, Inclusion, and Diversity (GRID) is committed to holding governing bodies in sport accountable to ensure a sports world free of prejudice, marginalization, and discrimination. Join us. Become a member of SIGA, support our Sport Integrity GOALS, and partner with us as we convene for the largest movement dedicated to Sport Integrity.”

Remember António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, 2019 speech on the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

This and other crucial challenges facing the Sport Industry will be discussed during the Sport Integrity Week 2022, Portugal, from 12 to 16 September, with the support of Cascais Municipality.