The United Nations information Centre (UNIC) in Dakar, in association with four secondary schools of Dakar, organized a series of exhibitions on the Holocaust in Europe, on the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

The exhibition was displayed in four high schools as follows: 
31 January to 7 February 2012: College Hyacinthe Thiandoum 
7 to 16 February 2012: West African College of the Atlantic (WACA)
16 to 22 February 2012: Cours Sainte Marie de Hann
22 February to 12 March 2012: Université du Sahel

Reaching approximately 6000 students between 31 January to 12 March 2012, the schools displayed the exhibition for approximately a week. At each school, the History professors gave a briefing on the Holocaust, which was followed by a debate between the students and the teachers.

Students of Mariama Ba secondary girls school welcoming guests on the Island of Goree

On 24 March 2011, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) Dakar in cooperation with UNESCO and all other stakeholders, such as the Government, media and NGOs, celebrated the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, on the Island of Goree, Senegal.

The activities were presided by Professor Kalidou Diallo, Minister of Education of Senegal, in presence of the UN Resident Coordinator, UN Agencies representatives, the Mayor of Goree, National UNESCO Commission, NGO, students and media.

The symbolic ceremony started by laying a spray of flowers in the sea by young girls along with the Education Minister of Senegal off the “Non return door” of the slave’s house.

The Curator of the House of Slaves reminded in few words the tragedy of slavery: how slaves were captured, their lives in Goree and travel to Americas. A short version of the film ”slaves routes : a global vision” was screened followed by a lecture given on the theme of the day by Professor Ibrahima Thioub of the University of Dakar at Mariama Ba girls secondary school of Goree.The conference lasted two hours during wich Professor Thioub explained causes, process and consequences of slavery.Tolerence, education for peace and love were among topics raised by many inteveners among them young students of Mariama Ba Girl’s secondary school during questions and answers session.

The event was well covered by local and international media based in Senegal. A total of 42 journalists attended and covered the event in addition to an audience of 200.

The Goree Island is a small Island in the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of Dakar Senegal capital city.

The Goree Island is a UNESCO world heritage site already visited by officials such as the Pope, President Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and President Georges Bush. La maison des esclaves (house of slaves) located on the Island has become a place of pilgrimage to remember the horrors of the slave trade and the millions of slaves who died.

Students at the Exhibit

The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Dakar, in association with seven secondary schools of Dakar, organized a series of exhibition on the Holocaust in Europe, on the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust on 27 January 2011.

The exhibition was displayed in seven high schools (Institution Sainte Jeanne d’Arc, International School of Dakar, CEM Kleber, Collège Sacré Coeur, CEM Alioune Diop, CEM Adama Diallo, Cours Sainte Marie de Hann) reaching approximately 10,000 students.

It was held from 1 February to 3 March 2011. Each school welcomed the exhibition for three days. The professors of history were in charge of making an introductory lecture on Shoah in general more particularly in Europe.

Le Représentant Spécial du Secrétaire Général de l’ONU pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest, Son Excellence Saïd DJINNIT, a procédé au lancement du repertoire des structures intervenant dans le domaine des Droits de l’Homme, le lundi 8 février 2010, dans les locaux du Centre d’Information des Nations Unies de Dakar (CINU) en présence de Mme Micheline Ravalolonarisoa, Directrice Afrique de l’UNIFEM, du Coordonnateur Résident par intérim, M Bienvenu DJOSSA et du Directeur du CINU, M. Toussaint KONGO-DOUDOU.

Mme Micheline Ravalolonarisoa

Les points focaux du groupe thématique Genre du système des Nations Unies, les représentants d’ONGs travaillant dans le domaine des Droits de l’homme et de nombreux journalistes de la presse nationale et internationale ont assisté à la cérémonie. Mme Micheline Ravalolonarisoa, prenant la parole, a fait un tableau sombre de la situation en Afrique de l’Ouest théâtre de conflits armés provoquant des crises humanitaires occasionnant des déplacements massifs de populations dont les femmes sont les premières victimes.

Ainsi le Secrétaire Général de l’ONU, en lançant la campagne sur les violences faites aux femmes, a invite la communauté internationale à identifier et à éradiquer les causes de la violence. C’est dans cette perspective que: « l’UNIFEM se réjouit de la mise en place en avril 2008, du groupe de travail, Femmes, Paix et Sécurité en Afrique de l’Ouest qui a pour objectifs de contribuer à l’harmonisation des activités, de participer à la définition de strategies sous-régionales pertinentes.. » a affirmé Mme Ravalolonarisoa.

Enfin, elle est persuadée que ce répertoire va contribuer à faciliter le réseautage des organisations oeuvrant dans le domaine des Droits de l’homme en Afrique de l’Ouest. La deuxième partie de la cérémonie sera consacrée aux questions de la presse sur les thématiques se rapportant à la situation en Afrique de l’Ouest.

Son excellence M. DJINNIT a répondu de manière exhaustive à toutes les questions avant de clôturer la cérémonie.