© UNESCO
New publication on "Legacies of Slavery - A Resource Book for Managers of Sites and Itineraries of Memory"
20 May 2019
The UNESCO Slave Route Project has chosen May 21, the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, to launch its new publication "Legacies of Slavery - A Resource Book for Managers of Sites and Itineraries of Memory".
Developed by the Slave Route project: Resistance, Liberty, Heritage, this Resource Book provides useful guidance for defining good strategies and practices for the preservation and promotion of the memorial heritage related to slavery and the slave trade. It is the result of an intensive collective work, and is intended for professionals involved in the safeguarding and promotion of sites and places of memory and, more generally, to all those who wish to safeguard and raise awareness about this heritage, still unknown for many and too frequently endangered, which testifies to one of the greatest tragedies of humanity. It contains conceptual, practical and ethical information inspired by more than 40 examples of sites, itineraries and museums analyzed in different regions of the world, with a view to providing a set of strategies for the preservation, promotion and support memory tourism development.
In order to respond to its global reach, UNESCO has decided to organize a global launch of the Resource Book involving all the partners of the Slave Route project around the world. On this occasion, they will organize on the same day and in their respective countries specific events to promote this publication and explore the themes addressed. More than 30 partners in 11 different countries have agreed to join us in this launch and run scientific, educational and cultural activities - such as conferences, round tables, exhibitions, heritage tours, remembrance ceremonies and inaugurations of sites associated with the Slave Route.
Through these events, the Slave Route project and its International Scientific Committee seek to mobilize actors who have a stake in this tragic history (researchers, local authorities, civil society activists, media, educators, etc.) and engage with them in a fruitful debate on the issues involved in preserving and managing the memory of slavery, as well as strategies for integrating this history into national narratives and memory policies.
Moreover, this global launch will be an opportunity to encourage countries and regions concerned to launch programs for the inventory, preservation and promotion of their memory heritage in order to develop memory tourism initiatives that are respectful of the ethical and moral requirements of this painful memory.