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James Aguer, chairperson of the Sudanese organisation the Dinka
Committee, will be presented with the 2006 Anti-Slavery Award from
Anti-Slavery International on Tuesday 28 November, 7.30pm at
Chatham House in London. He is being awarded for his inspiring
and dedicated work against slavery in Sudan.
The Earl of Sandwich, member of the House of Lords and of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Sudan, will present the Anti-Slavery Award.
The 2006 Anti-Slavery Award marks the beginning of Anti-Slavery
International's activities commemorating the 2007 bicentenary of
Britain's abolition of the slave trade.
More than 14,000 men, women and children were abducted and forced
into slavery in Sudan between 1986 and 2002, with thousands more
born into slavery.
James Aguer has been actively involved in seeking, identifying and
securing the release of Dinka women and children abducted from their
homes in Southern Sudan and forced into slavery since the late-1980s.
"James Aguer is a modern-day abolitionist. He is at the
forefront of the battle against slavery in Sudan and embodies the
same spirit and determination of the abolitionists of 200 years
ago. His heroic efforts have led to the release of over 4,000 people.
However, with thousands more still needing to be released and returned home, it is vital the Government of Sudan takes action to help end these people's suffering," Aidan McQuade Director of
Anti-Slavery International said.
Violence carried out by Arabic-speaking militia, the Murhaleen,
included killing, looting, destroying property, and abducting women
and children and forcing them into slavery. The civil war that raged
between the Sudan Government and Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army
over 20 years fuelled the conditions that led to so many people
being enslaved.
In an effort to stop these violations and help release those enslaved,
James and a few fellow activists within the Dinka community established
the Dinka Committee in 1989. The work was extremely dangerous. For
many years the Government of Sudan rejected allegations of slavery
and targeted those campaigning against it. As a result, James has
been arrested and imprisoned many times.
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- The ceremony will be held on Tuesday 28 November
2006, 7.30pm at: Chatham House, 10 St James's Square,
London SW1Y 4LE
- To attend the Award ceremony, for background or
an interview please contact Beth Herzfeld, Anti-Slavery
International's Press Officer, on +44 (0)20 7501 8934
(office hours), 07896 783297 (out of hours) or email:
b.herzfeld@antislavery.org
- For background information on James Aguer and slavery in Sudan as well as information on the Anti-Slavery Award see: http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/award.htm#link2
- PHOTOGRAPHS AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE ABDUCTED
AND ENSLAVED ARE AVAILABLE. Contact Beth Herzfeld on +44 (0)20 7501 8934
or email:
b.herzfeld@antislavery.org
- Anti-Slavery International was founded in 1839 by
the same abolitionists who led the campaign against the
Transatlantic Slave Trade in 1807 and fought for Britain's
abolition of slavery in 1833. It is committed to eliminating
all forms of slavery throughout the world. Slavery continues
to deny millions of people their basic dignity and fundamental
human rights. Anti-Slavery International works to end
these abuses by campaigning for slavery's eradication,
exposing current cases, supporting the initiatives of
local organisations to release people and pressing for
more effective implementation of international laws against
slavery.
- For background about Anti-Slavery International 's Fight for Freedom 1807-2007 Campaign see www.antislavery.org/2007
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