Initiated by the African Union in a resolution dating back to 2004, the African Union Human Rights Memorial (AUHRM) is meant to become a memorial for remembering mass atrocities in Africa. 'AUHRM should manifest both the duty to remember, provide a place of recognition as well as mourning and the duty to overcome denial, silence and disregard.'
Special attention is given to the victims of the former central prison Alem Bekagn in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where where thousands of people suffered and died. The headquarters of the African Union are located where this prison once stood.
The AUHRM will incorporate permanent memorials to the Rwanda Genocide, Apartheid and slavery, and temporary exhibits to memorialize human rights violations across the continent.
Cartoon Movement was asked to produce a series of five illustrations based on AUHRM slogans, to be used in the promotion of this project. We felt this assignment would be handled best by an African cartoonist, and asked Kenyan artist Victor Ndula to take this commission. Here is the result:
For an African Union Human Rights Memorial:
1. Let us unite to honour all victims and survivors of atrocities in the spirit of Pan African solidarity.
2. Let us document different histories of suffering in Africa, while promoting dialogue.
3. Let us educate African youth about past atrocities on the continent and tell the stories of those who strived to resist them.
4. Let us denounce the crimes committed by Africans against Africans.
5. Let us strive to prevent genocide, crimes against humanity and human rights abuses in Africa.
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