Preparing for The CARICOM Reparation Commission Leadership Engagement with Europe
September 2-3, 2025
CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND
There is a growing interest from international delegations visiting Europe to address reparatory justice claims. However, some of these delegations claim to represent African Diaspora communities without ensuring meaningful involvement or consultation with those communities living in Europe.
In 2024 A Europe Pan-African Coalition on Reparatory Justice (EPAC-RJ) was established by Europe Region African Diaspora Communities. This with the aim to bring together voices from across the African Diaspora in Europe together, advocating for reparatory justice for Africa and her descendants, focusing on all perpetrators that committed crimes against Africa and African people on the continent and in the Diaspora.
Building on foundational documents:
- including the 1987-1988 African Jubilee Declaration; the 1993 Abuja Proclamation; the 1994 Birmingham Declaration; the CARICOM 2025 revised Ten Point Plan; the 2023 ACCRA Proclamation; the African Union (AU) 2025 Year with the theme – Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations; the United Nations (UN) and European Union Resolutions on Fundamental Rights of People of African Descent (2019, 2020) – there is increased awareness and need amongst African Heritage Communities in particular with Caribbean roots in the Netherlands and across Europe to move the Dutch and other European apologies to structured actions through organized reparatory justice programs.
The CARICOM Reparations Commission asserts that European Governments were owners and traders of enslaved Africans, instructed genocidal actions upon indigenous communities, and created the legal, financial and fiscal policies necessary for the enslavement of Africans. Some has apologized but have failed to take full responsibility in the field of a Recovery Program. It is time to move from Acknowledgment to Action.
SEMINAR THEME
Building a people-centered narrative in the reparations discourse while strategically engaging with CARICOM leadership, the African Union (AU), the United Nations and other relevant stakeholders and institutional frameworks. Ensuring that authentic African Diaspora Community voices in Europe are heard on their goals and aspirations for reparations. The AU will more likely fully recognize and engage with us when it sees that CARICOM leadership values and affirms African Diaspora communities in Europe. By demonstrating respect for the institutions and infrastructure we have built, CARICOM can strengthen our collective legitimacy and foster deeper collaboration with the AU.
LEAD COUNTRY: THE NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands is strategically positioned as:
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
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DAY 1
Moderator: Hon. Dr. Nii Hammond – Member of the National Reparations Commission NL
TIME | ACTIVITY |
9:00am – 9:45am | Registration |
10:00am – 10:10am | Opening Libation: by Mrs. Modi Ntambwe, Europe Pan African Forum of People of African Descent Chapter Belgium |
10:10am – 10:35am | Welcome Remarks HRH Dr. Barryl A. Biekman – Event Organising & Planning Committee Drs. Rabin Baldewsingh - State Commissioner of the National Anti Racism and -Discrimination Coordination Government Body Ambassador Dr. Dorbrene O’Marde – Vice Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) Ms. Bridget A. Ohabuche – Europe Pan-African Forum for People of African Descent Chapter Italy, Youth Division Mr. Kofi Ogun - Board Member of the National institute Dutch Slavery Past and its Heritage |
10:35am – 11:15am | Opening Remarks Set the Tone: Mrs. Esther Xosei - Jurist Consult, Grand Master Teacher on Reparatory Justice: The Importance of Civil Society Voices Solidarity Statements Mr. Bright Sefah – Policy officer at African Union ECOSOCC Division Mr. William Charles Manful - Deputy Head of Mission Ghana Embassy to the Netherlands Mrs. Mila Paspalanova - United Nations Commissioner of Human Rights Regional Office for Europe Drs. Armand Zunder - Chair of the Suriname National Reparations Commission. Mrs. Miriam Ekiudoko – United Nations Special Envoy, Focal point for Europe in the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. |
11:15am – 11:25am | Keynote Address Professor Sir Hilary Beckles - Chair of the Caricom Reparation Commission (CRC) |
11:25am – 11:35am | Keynote Address Dr. Doudou Dienne - Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; Former Director of UNESCO's Department of Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue and responsible for the UNESCO Slave Route project. He is a board member and rapporteur of the prestigious French National Organization "Memory of Slavery" |
11:35am – 01:05pm | Session 1: Workshop - Understanding Reparatory Justice & the Global Reparations Framework Facilitator: Mrs. Esther Xosei
Facilitator: Chief Eric Phillips - Vice Chair of the Caricom Reparations Commission
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1:05pm – 2:00pm | Youth Workshop: Uniting the Voices of Youths for Recognition Justice & Development |
1:05pm – 2:00pm | LUNCH |
2:05pm – 3:45pm | Session 2: 1st Three Parallel Breakout Sessions: Critical Analysis of Organizing Partnerships Reflecting on
Includes Plenary Presentations
Moderators:
The CRC delegates may choose to participate in the Breakout Sessions |
4:00pm – 5:45pm | 2nd Three Parallel Breakout Sessions: CARICOM-Europe Relationship Analysis Reflecting on
Includes Plenary Presentations Moderators:
The CRC delegates may choose to participate in the Breakout Sessions |
5:50pm – 6:00pm | Closing Remarks: Conclusions & Recommendation |
DAY 2
Moderator: Hon. Dr. Angela Sayles – Board of Directors of the African Union African Diaspora Sixth Region High Council
TIME | ACTIVITY |
9:00am – 9:30am | Registration |
09:30am – 09:45am | Opening with Libation & Recap of Day 1 |
09:50am – 10:30am | Presentation: Artificial Intelligence in the context of Reparatory Justice Topic: Co-Creating a Just World with Ubuntu philosophy and AI Tools Speaker: Mrs. Mandisa Baptiste - Chief Knowledge Officer at Medioteq and CEO of i-LABS. |
10:35am – 11:50am | Session 3 Panel 1: Power Analysis and Strategic Engagement, what’s the Political Landscape? Reflecting on:
Moderator: Mr. Armand Zunder Panelists:
EPAF-PAD Country Delegates from Netherlands, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Hungria, Portugal will present their reports on the status of the development with regards to policies concerning Reparatory Justice on National Level. |
12:00pm – 1:00pm | Session 4 Panel 2: Engaging CARICOM and African Union as partners of Pan-African Civil Society Organisations in Europe Reflecting on:
Moderator: Dr. Nii Hammond Panelists:
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1:00pm – 1:50pm | LUNCH |
2:00pm – 3:00pm | 3rd Three Parallel Breakout Sessions: Community Self-Determination Structures & Community-Led Models Reflecting on:
Includes Plenary Presentation Moderators:
The CRC delegates may choose to participate in the Breakout Sessions |
3:05pm – 4:05pm | 4th Three Parallel Breakout Sessions: Intersectional Analysis and Inclusive Organizing
Includes Plenary Presentation Moderators:
The CRC delegates may choose to participate in the Breakout Sessions |
4:15pm – 5:25pm | Session 5 Panel 3: Regional Action Planning Reflecting on
Moderator: Dr. Nii Hammond Panelists:
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5:30pm – 6:00pm | Closing Session
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The International Network of Scholars and Activists for Afrikan Reparations
In Partnership With:
The Anti-Discrimination Facilities (Art1, Provincie Utrecht)
EPAFPAD - Europe Pan-African Forum for People of African Descent.
All Rights Reserved.