28/11/2024

The music from Cill - Nigeria


 Just interviewed the Nigerian singer Chioma Ogbonna aka Cill, here is her amazing new song: 


'Échí' by Cill x Destiny Trust Children 




Interview to come soon on RFI English...


On France's role in protecting Benjamin Netanyahu


27 Nov. 2024 



In a statement shared this Wednesday, the French foreign ministry said France would 'respect its international obligations' but added that the Israeli leader was covered by immunity rules that apply to states that are not a party to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The statement goes on to say: "In accordance with the long-standing friendship between France and Israel, two democracies committed to the rule of law and to respect for a professional and independent justice system, France intends to continue working in close cooperation with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the other Israeli authorities to achieve peace and security for all in the Middle East."



An israeli soldier pass by an army vehicle in tin Kiryat Shmona on the day that the ceasefire between Israel and Hizballa began, northern Israel, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)


France's stance on potential immunity for Netanyahu prompted some strong reactions Wednesday, both at home and abroad.

Amnesty International called the French stance granting immunity to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu "deeply problematic", saying it ran counter to the government's obligations as an ICC member. 

"Rather than inferring that ICC indictees may enjoy immunity, France should expressly confirm its acceptance of the unequivocal legal duty under the Rome Statute to carry out arrest warrants," said Anne Savinel-Barras, president of Amnesty International France.

According to law specialist Johann Soufi, quoting several Israeli media & Lebanon's L'Orient Le Jour, French president Emmanuel Macron might have agreed to recognise “immunity” to Netanyahu in exchange for the mention of France in the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon...

Europe Media and Editorial Director for Human Rights Watch, Andrew Stroehlein, ‪wrote on social media: 

"Some shocking nonsense from France here. No one gets immunity from an ICC arrest warrant because they're in office - not Netanyahu, not Putin, no one. See Article 27 of the Rome Statute".

He also frequently states: "If you only care about war crimes when your enemies commit them, then you don't really care about war crimes."

The choice of Macron's government also shocked some in France.

French Green party boss Marine Tondelier called the government's stance "shameful", adding it was probably the result of an agreement between the French and Israeli leaders. 

"Surely that was the deal, that France would get a mention in the official statement announcing the ceasefire in Lebanon that was published by France and the United States yesterday," she wrote on her socials. 

"Again, France is bending over backward to meet Benjamin Netanyahu's demand to pick him over international justice," she added.



26/11/2024

Ceasefire in Lebanon

 


Israel's Netanyahu says he backs Lebanon ceasefire deal with Hezbollah


Israeli prime minister says he will ask his cabinet to OK agreement, but vows to continue the war in Gaza


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he is asking his government to approve a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon but promised that Israel's war on Gaza would continue.

Netanyahu said Israel's attacks on Lebanon had "set Hezbollah back by decades" and it was time to focus on Gaza and "intensify" pressure on Hamas. 

He also said a ceasefire in Lebanon will allow Israel to "focus on the Iranian threat" and that the truce would speed up a delayed arms shipment from the United States. 

Speaking in a televised address after getting backing for the ceasefire from his security cabinet, the Israeli prime minister said he would ask all of his ministers for their approval later on Tuesday. Lebanon's parliament is expected to meet on Wednesday morning to discuss the agreement.



25/11/2024

'Where Olive Trees Weep': Official Trailer (2024)

 



"Where Olive Trees Weep" offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice. 

We follow, among others, Palestinian journalist and therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots activist Ahed Tamimi, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. 

We witness Dr. Gabor Maté offering trauma-healing work for a group of women who have been tortured in Israeli prisons. 

Ancient landscapes bear deep scars, having witnessed the brutal reality of ancestral land confiscation, expulsions, imprisonment, home demolitions, water deprivation, and denial of basic human rights. 

Yet, through the veil of oppression, we catch a glimpse of resilience—deep roots that have carried the Palestinian people through decades of darkness and shattered lives. 

This emotional journey bares the humanity of the oppressed while grappling with the question: what makes the oppressor so ruthlessly blind to its own cruelty?


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If you' in Bristol, meet us here: 


Where Olive Trees Weep + Q&A 

Sunday 8th December, 2024, at 13:30 to 15:50 

Arnolfini, Bristol, BS1 4QA 

Get tickets: £10 / £8.50 / £5


This screening includes a Q&A with Ashira Darwish hosted by Melissa Chemam.


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To host a Screening:

https://whereolivetreesweep.com/host-a-screening/


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About "Where Olive Trees Weep" The film gives background to the current crisis in Israel/Palestine and brings to light the lives of people we met on our 2022 journey in the occupied West Bank. Their universally human stories speak of intergenerational pain, trauma and resilience. We hope they touch your heart, stir compassion and understanding, and give rise to a pursuit for justice. For without justice, peace remains an empty slogan. Cinema can be a powerful force for change. Our aim is, beyond mere education, to truly move hearts and minds and inspire audiences to echo the calls for freedom, equality and dignity that have gone unanswered for far too long. The film is our modest contribution towards our dream for an end to the occupation in Palestine, the attainment of equal rights and fair treatment for Palestinian people, and the spreading of healing for all intergenerational cycles of trauma in the region. Directors' Statement Where Olive Trees Weep explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice. We follow, among others, Palestinian journalist and therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots activist Ahed Tamimi, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. We also watch Dr. Gabor Maté support a group of women seeking understanding and healing and offer his insights into intergenerational trauma. Through the veil of oppression, we catch a glimpse of resilience—deep roots that have carried the Palestinian people through decades of darkness and shattered lives. This emotional journey bares the humanity of the oppressed while grappling with the question: what makes the oppressor so ruthlessly blind to its own cruelty?



International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women at 25

 


This year 2024 marks 25 years since the declaration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is why the General Assembly will hold an event to reflect on the progress and achievements made to eliminate gender violence.


Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed somewhere in the world.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world, according to the United Nations.

Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.

For at least 51,100 women in 2023, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act—their murder by partners and family members. That means a woman was killed every 10 minutes.





Grim figures

In France only, each year, 321,000 women aged 18 to 74 are victims of physical, sexual and/or psychological violence committed by their spouse or ex-spouse, but only 15 percent file a complaint. In 2023, there were 134 femicides in the country (an average of 1 death every 2.5 days), while one rape occurs every 7 minutes.

In Africa, the most prevalent forms of Violence Against Women and Girls reported and documented, include Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which manifests in physical, sexual or psychological violence by an intimate partner; Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is a common cultural practice in some parts of Africa; Early Child and Forced Marriage where girls below 18 years are forced into marriage.

They also include Sexual Violence in Conflict (SVC) which includes rape, sexual assault with violent physical assault, kidnapping, sexual slavery and forced prostitution in conflict situations.

This scourge has intensified in different settings, according to UN Women, including the workplace and online spaces, and has been exacerbated by conflicts, and climate change.

Worldwide, 70 percent of women in conflict, war, and humanitarian crisis, experience gender-based violence.

The solution lies in robust responses, holding perpetrators accountable, and accelerating action through well-resourced national strategies and increased funding to women’s rights movements.

Move for social change

This year marks the 25th year of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Women's rights activists have observed 25 November as a day against gender-based violence since 1981. This date was selected to honour the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).

The UN marks it by launching a special series of events for awareness: UNiTE campaign, held between 25 November and 10 December. The initiative of 16 days of activism will conclude on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day, on 10 December.

This 2024 campaign Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women aims to draw attention to the alarming escalation of violence against women to revitalise commitments, call for accountability and action from decision-makers.


24/11/2024

Has COP29 failed?

 


Comments from Nazanine Moshiri, the International Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst on Climate, Environment and Conflict on COP29:



" At COP29 in Baku, while negotiators acknowledged the urgency of improving climate finance access for vulnerable nations, what was agreed falls far short of what’s required.

 Remember, these negotiations happened against the backdrop of escalating global crises, from the war in the Middle East, Ukraine and the re-election of Donald Trump. 

 Billions have been promised, but developing countries' adaptation needs, including those of Africa, are in the trillions.  Adaptation risks across the continent could lead to disastrous neglect without adequate funding. "


"Many African nations are deeply disappointed. Despite being hardest hit by the dual crises of conflict and climate shocks, they were unable to secure a real breakthrough at this COP.

 Our research in regions like the Sahel and the Horn of Africa highlights that adaptation is not just about protection—it’s about ensuring stability. 

 Investing in resilience can prevent the cascading effects of social tensions, displacement and conflict. 

 Looking ahead to COP30 in Brazil, the prospects for progress on climate and conflict remain uncertain. Brazil has historically hesitated to fully integrate these issues into the global climate agenda, leaving Africa’s urgent needs unanswered."



Marseille, November light

 










22/11/2024

What is wrong with Algerian writer Kamel Daoud

 

I hate to criticise writers, I'm all for freedom of expression, but profiting from a woman's suffering, and bashing your home country to gain attention in its former coloniser's literary scene... doesn't sound like the right approach to me.

I'm from both countries myself, born in France, my whole family in Algeria apart from my parents, my sister and once cousin, and I have the utmost respect for what Algerians wen through since French troops set a foot on their soil in 1830. They are courageous people and have suffered a lot.

If I believed Daoud's book was to benefit most of the readers, I would review it. I don't.

Here is a draft I wrote today, story to come on RFI English soon.


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A controversy in Algeria overshadows writer Kamel Daoud's prize for his novel 'Houris'


The Franco-Algerian author Kamel Daoud is accused by a victim of the civil war in Algeria of having exploited his history and his traumas to write his recent novel, Houris, which won the most prestigious French prize earlier in November.


Kamel Daoud in Paris, receiving its recent prize - Photo by AP


The Algerian woman, Saâda Arbane, 30, survived a massacre during the "black decade" (1992-2002) of the civil war, and is now bringing accusations against the Algerian-turned-French author Kamel Daoud.

Arbane says she has recognised her own story in that of the character of Aube, the heroine of the novel. 

Moreover, with supporting documents, she has revealed this week that she was followed in psychiatry by Kamel Daoud's wife, in Oran, between 2015 and 2021.

She now accuses her and him of having violated the confidentiality of her medical file and "the privacy of her private life".

According to Arbane, Daoud had made several requests to adapt her story, which she always refused.

She now says he has published the novel nonetheless, without her consent or the one of her parents.

Her lawyer, Fatima Benbraham, told RFI that she had the documents proving that psychiatrist Aïcha Dahdouh, has been following her client since 2015.

"If the evidence did not exist, the claim would have been inadmissible... My client's rights will never remain violated, by anyone," she said. "We want justice."

Daoud and his wife Aicha Dehdouh are now being sued in Algeria's court of Oran for allegedly using her personal story without consent and for violating medical confidentiality.

“Right after the publication of the book, we filed two complaints against Kamel Daoud and his wife, Aicha Dehdouh, the psychiatrist who treated the victim,” lawyer Benbraham told the press on Wednesday.


Private, horrific story


In an interview with a private Algerian television channel, Saâda Arbane has claimed that there are striking similarities in the novel with her own life.

She cited the nature of her scar, the tattoo she has, the cannula, her pension, the abortion, the hair salon, the Lotfi high school, her complicated relationship with her adoptive mother and her love of horses, as an equestrian champion.

Arbane says she was shocked by what she read in Houris: "I don't like talking about my story, it's something that disturbs me in life," she says.

She was 6 years old when her village in Tiaret was attacked in 1993, many of her neighbours massacred, and her family decimated.

She was left for dead with her throat half slit, her vocal cords wrecked, and scarred for life.


Ongoing controversy


Houris is indeed inspired by some of the tragic events that occurred in Algeria during the civil war of the 1990s.

Up to 200,000 people were killed in the conflict and thousands more disappeared, or subjected to torture and sexual violence.

But "its plot, its characters and its heroine are purely fictional," its publisher, Gallimard, stated in a press release.

Gallimard thus denounced "defamatory" attacks against the Franco-Algerian author, winner of the 2024 Goncourt Prize for this novel.

Daoud claims he is the target of "violent defamatory campaigns organised by media close to" the Algerian regime.

He added that Houris is banned in Algeria.

The head of the Gallimard was even forbidden from presenting his works at the Algiers International Book Fair, which ended on 17 November.

The ban on participating in this fair was notified to Gallimard publishing house at the beginning of October, when Houris was already seen as one of the big favorites for the Goncourt.

Arbane's lawyer, Benbraham, however accuses Daoud of defaming victims of terrorism and of violating the Algerian law on national reconciliation, which prohibits publication of details about the so-called black decade.

The complaints were first lodged in August, Benbraham added, some time before Daoud won the Goncourt, but they did not want to talk about it, "so it wouldn’t be said that we wanted to disrupt the author’s nomination for the prize,” she said.

Daoud, who used to live in Algeria and work as a columnist, was  columnist for the French right-wing weekly news magazine Le Point for 10 years, and moved to France in 2023.

He has been regularly decried for his overt anti-Arab racism, since, in 2016 – following numerous cases of sexual assault on women by Arab migrants in Cologne, Germany – he wrote an op-ed piece published in the New York Times called "The Sexual Misery of the Arab World".

He has also been linked with French far-right intellectuals.



Two positive stories from Africa!!

 

My two latest stories for RFI:


 As the COP29 talks stall, some optimistic prospects in Africa

>> Plastic-eating mealworms found in Kenya offer hope for waste crisis




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African cinema takes to global stage with diverse storytelling

As African cinema is taking centre stage at festivals around the world, filmmakers and curators reflect on the future of the film industry and creativity on the continent. 



“It is always a pleasure to show my African films around the world,” Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako told RFI.

The Oscar-Nominated director was in London, where his latest film Black Tea, closed the Film Africa festival in London this month, opening discussions on how African stories are perceived globally.

From 25 October to 3 November, the festival showcased over 70 films from 25 African countries, coinciding with Black History Month. Organised by the Royal African Society, it celebrates the richness of African storytelling.

Abderrahmane Sissako
Abderrahmane Sissako © Chevié Link for the London Film Festival

“This is a great time for African cinema,” said Keith Shiri, the festival’s lead curator adding that African filmmakers no longer rely on foreign resources or perspectives.


Read on from here:

African cinema takes to global stage with diverse storytelling



 

21/11/2024

ICC issues arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza

 


The international criminal court has issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s former defence minister Yoav Gallant and the Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes relating to the Gaza war.

It is the first time that leaders of a democracy and western-aligned state have been charged by the court, in the most momentous decision of its 22-year history.

Netanyahu and Gallant are at risk of arrest if they travel to any of the 124 countries that signed the Rome statute establishing the court. Israel claims to have killed Deif in an airstrike in July, but the court’s pre-trial chamber said it would “continue to gather information” to confirm his death.

The chamber ruled there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators for “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts”.


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20/11/2024

Cop29: Urgent need for climate commitments

 

As Cop29 unfolds, African negotiators denounce 'slow progress' and aim for last minute breakthrough


Negotiators are striving to resolve a deadlock at the UN climate talks in Azerbaijan. African negotiators want to remind wealthy nations that Africa, despite being the least polluting continent, bears the brunt of the climate crisis. Some of them share with me their cautious optimism for a last-minute breakthrough...





While Cop29 has entered its second week of negotiations, most participants expect little progress until the very last day, Friday 22 November.

Greenpeace Africa activists are ramping up their efforts, declaring on social media that they "won’t stop" until they "hold all polluters accountable for their acts of climate injustice!"

The NGO delivered a petition to the Chair of the Africa Group of negotiators (AGN), Ali Mohammed. The petition underscores the importance of the collective power of supporters, volunteers, and partners, they said in a statement on social media. 

Yesterday, I spoke to Juma Ignatius is from Kenya, who works as the senior advisor to the office of the AGN at the UN, and is in Baku to focus on climate adaptation.

"Adaptation remains a key priority for the African continent for many people in Africa," he told me from Azerbaijan.

He says the priority is to make sure that the finance, the technology and the capacity building to ensure that adaptation efforts in Africa are upscaled to levels that help people to live their lives well are in place.

"This is primarily why we're here."

While he believes the negotiations are progressing, he thinks they are moving very slowly.

"There are some tactics employed on purpose here, especially wait and see tactics, to see what happens in what room and then how can other rooms [will] respond to this..." Ignatius said. "We believe this is what is really slowing down the process of the negotiation." 

Regarding the G20 commitments made so far, specifically on the funds for adaptation, he estimates these are positive signs.  

"We've seen reports from the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), saying that we need money, that is a lot. But... the fractions we are receiving here are very, very small," he also told me.

"The adaptation needs are increasing every day. The gap is increasing between what is really required and what's being pledged. So, we need to see more action."  


Double burden


I also spoke to Dean Bhebhe Bhekhumuzi, who is the intelligence and campaigns advisor at Power Shift Africa, and the lead coordinator for the Don't Gas Africa movement. Originally from Zimbabwe, he's working with the Kenya-based organisation remotely from Johannesburg, in South Africa. 

He believes that no breakthrough will be achieved until the very end of this round of negotiations, probably the last day.

But he also thinks that what's important is to understand the relationship between developing and developed countries.

"When we look at the type of finance that Africa needs to tap into, it becomes important to mention the debt crisis," he says. "Nigeria, Senegal, for example, need to pay off their huge debt."

These two countries use up to 67 percent against their GDP to pay off debt, leaving only 33 percent to tackle energy, healthcare, infrastructure, education, all the essential building blocks for development.

"Developing countries are asking developed countries to essentially manage and pay for emission reductions, and to implement a strategy," Bhekhumuzi explains. 

He underlines that Africa bears the brunt of the climate crisis, yet they are the least responsible for it, and the mechanisms to change this situation are not there.

"Surely we cannot be expected to also contribute financially, despite the debt burden."


No room for pessimism


These negotiators promise to remain alert and focused. 

Both activists want to remain optimistic as they say they cannot give up on the multilateral processes.

"We must reckon that some of the benefits have been achieved," the senior advisor to the office of the AGN, Juma Ignatius, also told me. "For example, the Paris Agreement."

Africa and the G77 at the UN, representing 77 developing economies, called for a total of $1.3 trillion last week. 

For Ignatius, this is achievable this week at Cop29, despite a huge presence of fossil fuel lobbies. So he insists that African negotiators should not be defeated or focus on what's not working. 

"We can encourage ourselves that something greater is coming," he says.  

Bhekhumuzi agrees. "I think what is important is actually uploading Global South countries," he told me and get their voices heard.

"The Africa group of negotiators is pushing for an act that is people centred, one that will empower Africa. Because we're having those critical discussions, this is already a small win," Bhekhumuzi concludes.



Éloge de la submersion - La Compagnie (Marseille)






Éloge de la submersion (cosmogramme 2#*) 


Une proposition de Dénètem Touam Bona et la compagnie avec Hawad, Maya Mihindou, Tiphaine Calmettes, Olivier Marboeuf, Intersexion (Arianne Leblanc & Aphelandra Siassia), Sabrina Da Silva Medeiros, Rangitea Bourgeois Tihopu, Magalie Grondin Avec le soutien du programme Art & citoyen de la Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso 


Ce projet de recherche-création archipélique, « Cosmopoétiques du refuge », se déploie en une série d’escales constituant autant de « cosmogrammes » : des espace-temps visant à proposer d’autres versions de la « réalité » – des sub-versions – via une réhabilitation de la puissance des rêves, de la poésie et de l’utopie en acte, tout cela en « correspondance » avec la recherche scientifique la plus contemporaine (biologie marine, anthropologie, géographie, etc.). 

16.11.24 à 18h et 17.11.24 à 15h : week-end d’ouverture : performances, conférences, projections, rencontres  

21.11 19h à Zoëme Il faut tirer l’existence par les cheveux », projection, rencontre, exposition 

22.11 à partir de 15h Voguer à contre-courant, conférence, rencontres 

25.11 19h en présence de Alexis Pauline Gumbs, lancement de la traduction française de son livre Non-Noyées, Leçons féministes Noires apprises auprès des mammifères marines 

du 28 au 30.11 Cosmographie du bleu, performances, conférences, projections, rencontres 


 

16.11.2024 — 1.02.2025 Eloge de la submersion, une proposition de Dénètem Touam Bona avec la compagnie


lien : https://www.la-compagnie.org/portfolio/elogedelasubmersion/ 

17/11/2024

Marseille activism

 

Marseille demonstration for the liberation of Georges Abdallah, for Lebanon and for Palestine




Marseille citizens are mobilised for peace in Lebanon and Palestine, here demanding  the liberation of political prisoner Georges Abdallah



15/11/2024

Human Rights Watch on the 1884-85 Berlin Africa conference

 

Human Rights Watch reflects on the 140th "anniversary" of the opening of the 1884-1885 Berlin Africa Conference:

This is where 19 European countries and the US came together to expand and organise Europe’s colonial domination and exploitation across Africa.

Have a read:


Europe Has Yet to Address Colonial Legacies



140 Years After Key European Colonial Conference, Ongoing Impacts Require Urgent Action




Hundreds of people of African descent took part in the African Emancipation Day Reparations March in London, August 1, 2017. 
 © 2017 Wiktor Szymanowicz/Shutterstock


(Berlin, November 14, 2024) – European governments have yet to reckon with and meaningfully address the ongoing impacts of their colonial legacies affecting people of African descent on the African continent and in the diaspora, Human Rights Watch said. 

15 November 2024, is the 140th anniversary of the 1884 opening of the Berlin Africa Conference, at which 19 European countries and the US came together to organiee and expand Europe’s colonial domination and exploitation across Africa.

“The Berlin Africa Conference marked a critical point in Europe's colonial history, with its long-lasting impacts still largely unaddressed by responsible states and other actors,” said Almaz Teffera, researcher on racism in Europe at Human Rights Watch. 

“The passage of so many years has not ended the need for European governments to address their colonial legacies and to create victim-centred reparations processes grounded in international human rights law with meaningful participation of affected communities.”

In light of this significant anniversary, on 15 November, Dekoloniale, a German decolonial project collective, will organise a counter-version of the original conference, the Dekoloniale Berlin Africa Conference. Unlike the original conference, which excluded Africans, it will bring together Africans and people of African descent who continue to be affected by the legacy of European colonialism to reflect on the history of the Berlin Africa Conference and its lasting impact today.

In an effort to give voice to the formerly colonised, a diverse group of 19 expert delegates, both from Africa and its global diaspora, will share their perspectives on how to address the many ongoing and structural impacts of colonialism. 

Among them are Alice Nkom, a Cameroonian lawyer and human rights defender; Gary Younge, an award-winning UK author, broadcaster and professor of sociology; and Awet Tesfaiesus, a lawyer and German Green parliament member.

In November 2023, the African Union organised a conference in Accra at which delegates adopted a proclamation that called for reparations to Africans both on the continent and in the diaspora as an acknowledgment of the profound harm caused by Europe’s colonialism, enslavement, and the slave trade. 

The proclamation also declared 2025 the year for “Justice for Africa Through Reparations,” which the 37th African Union Summit in 2024 confirmed. The African Union and its member states should meaningfully consult with affected communities and center on them in those efforts, Human Rights Watch said.

At the European Union level, some members of the European Parliament proposed a draft resolution on reparatory justice and sustainable development, acknowledging the lasting impacts of European colonialism on racial inequities in the world. The resolution was circulated at the end of 2023 but never made it to a vote before the European Parliament elections in June 2024.

The UK parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, which Labour member Bell Ribeiro-Addy chairs, has also grappled with the question of reparations to redress the legacies of African enslavement and colonialism. Ribeiro-Addy will give a welcoming speech at the Dekoloniale Berlin Africa Conference.

The 19 expert delegates at the Dekoloniale Berlin Africa Conference will call on European parliament members, policymakers, and others to take urgent action on a 10-point list of demands that they will prepare ahead of the conference.

In the framework of this conference, Human Rights Watch, together with Amnesty International and African Futures Lab, will organise a workshop at which community members, civil society, academics, and activists will come together to share struggles and experiences and discuss ways to advance reparations.

“European governments have largely ignored and even rejected communities’ calls for reparations to address Europe’s historic legacies,” Teffera said. “European leaders should understand that addressing the legacies of their states is not a choice but an obligation under international human rights law.” 



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