Jan. 31, 2007 — A prominent Danish human rights advocate will visit St. Croix on Thursday to meet with Gov. John deJongh Jr. and members of the Legislature for three days of discussion on Danish slavery reparations.
The event will be hosted by the African-Caribbean Reparations and Resettlement Alliance (ACRRA).
According to a recent ACRRA press release, Morten Kjaerum, the executive director of the Danish Institute for Human Rights, will meet with various organizations, agencies and individuals interested in the V.I. reparations movement.
Kjaerum will also assist in organizing the 2007 V.I. Reparations Delegation to Denmark.
Kjaerum is described in the release as "the man who is advocating a new sensitivity in Denmark toward the need for repair of the human heritage of the former Danish West Indian society."
In 2005, the V.I. Legislature adopted a resolution, sponsored by Sens. Celestino A. White Sr. and Usie Richards, to condemn the institution of slavery and seek reparations from Denmark.
An expert within the field of international human rights law, Kjaerum, since 2003, has been the executive director of the institute and co-director of the Danish Centre for International Studies and Human Rights.
The government house reception scheduled for Friday is being co-sponsored by the V.I. Bar Association; the Office of Delegate Donna Christiansen; Sens. Louis Hill and Terrence "Positive" Nelson; the West Indies Co., Ltd; Bates Trucking and Government House.
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