Shami Chakrabarti
The 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act is an important reminder of the potential for people of all ages, races, and circumstances to come together in recognition of the fundamental human rights values of dignity, equal treatment and justice. It provides an inspiration for the current generation of campaigners, legislators and good citizens to find courage and hope in the face of the inhumanities of today's world.
In 2007 some of us still see others as somehow less human; less worthy of freedom and respect, than ourselves. People are still bought and sold and still subject to degrading treatment and torture. There are too many excuses, too many reasons to look the other way. This moment is no cause for complacency but for even greater efforts in memory of those who suffered and struggled before. We will keep the memory and the struggle alive.
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