Record #: SR2015-107   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 3/18/2015 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Human Relations
Final action: 5/6/2015
Title: Expression of support of Biram Dah Abeid and Mauritanian abolitionists in fight against slavery
Sponsors: Brookins, Jr., Howard, Cappleman, James, Thomas, Latasha R., Austin, Carrie M., Burnett, Jr., Walter, Ervin, Jason C., Reboyras, Ariel, Dowell, Pat, Burns, William D., Graham, Deborah L., Lane, Lona, Foulkes, Toni, O'Connor, Mary, Holmes, Natashia, Willie B. Cochran, Fioretti, Bob, Moore, Joseph, Chandler, Michael D., Solis, Daniel, Harris, Michelle A., Mitts, Emma, Cullerton, Timothy M., Laurino, Margaret, O'Connor, Patrick
Attachments: 1. R2015-107.pdf, 2. SR2015-107.pdf
SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION
 
WHEREAS, throughout the sordid history of this world, there have been periods of unconscionable and systematic subjugation and abuse of men, women, and children by means of enslavement; and
WHEREAS, long promoted and practiced by generations of men and women the world over, slavery and servitude has left - and continues to leave - an immeasurable impact on countless physical, psychological, familial, cultural, and economic aspects of everyday life; and
WHEREAS, modern-day slavery is still extant in the West African nation of Mauritania;
and
WHEREAS, the institution of slavery in Mauritania exists in conjunction with routine sexual and physical violence against women and children to ensure its perpetuation; and
WHEREAS, home to visionaries and innovators in the continuous fight for human rights, the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois share an extensive and proud history of supporting the abolition of slavery; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. State Department's 2014 Report on Trafficking in Persons states that "held for generations by slave-holding families, persons subjected to slavery are forced to work without pay as cattle herders and domestic servants;" and
WHEREAS, the State Department's 2014 Report further states that "the government failed to hold traffickers criminally accountable, and law enforcement and judicial personnel intervened on behalf of alleged offenders to thwart the progress of criminal prosecutions;" and
WHEREAS, the United States government is closely following the legal proceedings against Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, President of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA), IRA Vice President Brahim Bilal Ramdhane, and Djiby Sow, President of Kawal e Yelitaare; and
WHEREAS, the United States is deeply concerned by the January 15, 2015 court decision to convict and sentence these abolitionists to two years imprisonment, and the impact this ruling will have on freedom of association and assembly in Mauritania; and
WHEREAS, in an encouraging step, the Association of Mauritanian Qulemas (religious scholars) issued a Fatwa on March 31, 2015, which held that slavery has no legal ground with respect to the Shari'ah law in Mauritania; and
 
WHEREAS, one of the notable accomplishments of the Chicago City Council in previous decades was its strong and public stances against another injustice in Africa—the cruelty of Apartheid in South Africa—and that this Chicago City Council stance was part of the international movement that brought sanctions against—and eventually an end to—Apartheid in South Africa; and
 
WHEREAS, just as the City of Chicago stood up for abolition and spoke out against slavery then, we urge the appellate court to review both the convictions and the sentencing
 
 
without delay, and to handle these important cases in a fair, impartial, and transparent manner; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this sixth day of May, 2015, do hereby join the U.S. Government in expressing the City of Chicago's support of efforts by the Mauritanian government and civil society to eliminate slavery in Mauritania, which must be a sustained and collective effort by government, religious, law enforcement, judicial, tribal, and civil society leaders, together with all Mauritanians; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to the members of United States Congress and the United Nations.
 
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF CHICAGO
 
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS
 
COUNCIL CHAMBER
 
 
ARIEL E. REBOYRAS
Alderman, 30,h Ward 3559 N. Milwaukee Ave Chicago, IL 60641 (773) 794-3095 (773) 794-8576 (Fax) Ward3 0@c ityofch icago. org www.30thwardchicago.com
City Hall, Room 300 121 N. LaSalle Street Chicago, 1L 60602 Telephone (312) 744-3304
HUMAN RELATIONS
Chairman
 
Aviation
Budget and Government Operations Rules and Ethics Finance Housing and Real Estate License and Consumer Protection Public Safety
 
 
May 6, 2015
 
 
To the President and Members of the City Council:
 
Your committee on Human Relations, for which a meeting was held April 28, 2015, having had under consideration two (2) items;
 
A Substitute Resolution introduced by Alderman Brookins (21st), calling for support of Biram Dah Abeid and all other Mauritanian abolitionists in their fight against slavery. This recommendation was concurred in a voice vote of all committee members present with no dissenting votes.
 
 
A Substitute Ordinance introduced by Mayor Emanuel, Amending the Municipal Code Title 2 by adding new Chapter 40 entitled "Citywide Language Access to Ensure the Effective Delivery of City Services." This recommendation was concurred in a voice vote of all committee members present with no dissenting votes.
 
 
Respectfully subrrntted,
 
Ariel E,^Reboyras, Chairman Committee on Human Relations
 
 
 
 
 
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