Overcoming the injustice of slavery was the focus of a key event hosted in Cardiff by UNISON Cymru/Wales.
The union, which represents thousands of public sector workers in Wales and across the UK, welcomed guests including Welsh Government economy minister Vaughan Gething to the evening to mark the International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
The annual event, which was also attended by UNISON Cymru/Wales vice president Libby Nolan and convenor Dave Rees, featured speeches on the slave trade, its relevance in the modern world, and how we overcome the injustices it still fuels.
Kebba Manneh, chair of UNISON Cymru/Wales Black Members Group, chaired the event and said: “UNISON is committed to tackling discrimination and exploitation in every form. Modern slavery is a shocking stain on society and there is an obligation to do everything we can to root it out and protect vulnerable individuals.
“The Black members Committee is exploring the concept of an award ceremony to recognise, acknowledge, and appreciate the support from our white allies who have gone that extra mile to champion racial justice at the workplace and in communities.
“Each and every year we remember the abolition of slavery but we must also remember that there can be modern day slavery going on and sometimes on our doorsteps so raising awareness of that is also very important.”
Welsh Government economy minister Vaughan Gething addressed the event and said: “The scale of the slave trade as a whole can often feel unfathomable. What we can all relate to is the inhumanity and the brutality which these stories tell us about what abolitionist MP Foxwell Buxton in 1823 called, “the greatest crime that any nation ever committed.”
“Importantly though, justice did prevail. And we must take inspiration from those abolitionists – MPs, campaigners, and of course the many enslaved people who rose up against their oppressors – as we continue to fight racial injustice and modern slavery today.”
