One of the most beneficial parts of the Human Rights Internship Program is not only what you learn in the office through contact with legal professionals, but also what one can witness and learn outside the office’s walls. By virtue of being in West Africa this summer I was able to visit many sites which enriched my understanding of human rights violations that occured during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. In this blog I will discuss 2 UNESCO world heritage sites that left a lasting impression on me.
Kuntah Kinteh Island
I was fortunate that Omar Jallow, a dear coworker of mine, arranged a trip to visit Kuntah Kinteh Island. This was by far one of the most meaningful experiences of my time in the Gambia and I feel very grateful for the people at IHRDA that often organized excursions so I could learn more about Gambian history and culture.
This outing held particular significance for me, as I had spent much of my summer working on slavery files, and this visit provided a tangible link between my research and the historical realities of slavery. The guide on the island was deeply knowledgeable, leading us through the ruins in a way that vividly conveyed the atrocities that had taken place. His passion gave the impression of a solemn duty to pass on the island’s history and remind all of the painful past which should never be repeated.
Access to the island involves a 20-minute boat ride from Jufureh, a reminder of why it once served as a strategic stronghold in the Gambia River. The Island itself is shrinking due to the erosion caused by the ocean, and the fort is mainly scattered ruins with few rooms left intact.
At the end of the visit, our guide shared some gut wrenching stories of how victims of slavery were treated even after the slave trade was abolished, which really stuck with me as an example of how the law is ineffective without meaningful implementation. At IHRDA, I came to understand how much the legal battle is only one component of the larger struggle of ensuring that states actually comply with court decisions and put an end to the human rights infringing practices.
After visiting Kuntah Kinteh, I hope that preservation efforts receive the proper support because this site holds significance not only for Gambians but for humanity’s collective memory of these events. Losing any more of what remains would be a tragic loss.
Gorée
After my internship, I spent some time traveling around Sénégal and L’Île de Gorée is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Dakar. The historical significance of Gorée was recognized after Senegal gained independence from France, and the area was preserved in line with the principles of the Negritude Movement, promoted by the country’s first president Léopold Sédar Senghor.
Sénégal’s foresight in protecting these culturally significant sites is remarkable, as it allows visitors to the Maison des Esclaves to see firsthand what the slave house looked like and gain a deeper understanding of what enslaved people endured there.
The island attracts visitors from all over the world, many of whom are eager to share how deeply moved they feel after visiting the Maison des Esclaves. Areas like these are continuing the conversation about what happened, and ensuring that the history and human suffering of the past are neither forgotten nor ignored.
While I had learned about the triangular trade that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, being there in person revealed the human cost of greed and the profound disregard for dignity and life that unfolded in these places. As a Canadian, I am thankful for the opportunity I was given to spend this summer in West Africa and to confront not only the inequities created by the Transantlantic Slave Trade but also their impact on societies today.