Throughout much of history, especially during the age of exploration and the conquest and domination of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia, colonization was not merely a violent and malevolent public crime that garnered celebration from millions. It embodied the worldwide manifestation of racism.

Centuries of vicious systematic extermination of innocent men, women, and children through targeted assassinations, extra-judicial massacres, genocide, and ferocious wars against decolonization were wrong, unjust, and the effects are visible.

Colonization left deep scars on societies and peoples worldwide, robbing them of autonomy and dignity. Failing to confront unaddressed colonial atrocities and evading responsibility when confronted with legitimate accusations perpetuates a damaging legacy. It also diminishes the emotional scars of victims’ descendants, enabling former colonial powers to appear sympathetic to their ancestors’ actions, and lessens the commitment of the International Community to promote a more inclusive society. 

It’s a tragic irony when governments and long-established corporations that benefited from colonization inflict additional harm on the communities most affected, while neglecting the original injustice.

Establishing a significant area for pilgrimage and remembrance (WCM) would be a robust method for the international community to foster a more restorative experience for all parties involved: survivors, their descendants, and key stakeholders. This space would enable communities impacted by colonization to pay tribute to victims and seek healing.

Cognizant that on 14 December 1960, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, which helped many colonized territories achieve independence through the sacrifices of their people, on Monday, September 23, 2024, WCM initiated a campaign advocating for December 14th the International Day where communities most impacted by colonization to pay tribute to victims and seek healing.

The campaign, initiated during the United Nations Summit of the Future, calls on the United Nations General Assembly to recognize December 14th as the International Day for Victims of Colonization, emphasizing it as a moral imperative.

Establishing an International Memorial Day would greatly benefit the global community. It would offer an annual chance to reflect on colonialism’s impacts and commemorate its victims.