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The Repair Campaign in collaboration with the Centre for Reparations Research (CRR) at The University of the West Indies, has announced the launch of the inaugural International Reparations Debate Competition. This event, themed “Tackling Reparations Together: A New Decade for Reparatory Justice,” will commence with an online media launch on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 4:00 PM (Jamaica time).<\/p>\n
The aim is to engage secondary school students from throughout the Caribbean and the United Kingdom in important conversations surrounding reparatory justice, says a press release from the Repair Campaign. The first round of debates will see participation from 24 schools hailing from countries including the Bahamas, Cura\u00e7ao, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the UK.<\/p>\n
Scheduled to unfold from March to April 2025, the competition will tackle critical issues such as the potential for an ancestor’s wrongful actions to be apologized for, the appropriateness of reparations being paid to governments, and strategies for involving youth in discussions on reparatory justice.<\/p>\n
Lucy Gaffney, Director of The Repair Campaign, expressed her enthusiasm for the competition, stating, \u201cThe Repair Campaign is deeply committed to raising awareness among young people about the history and ongoing impact of the transatlantic trafficking of peoples from Africa to the Caribbean. We are excited to support this debate competition because it provides an invaluable platform for students to engage with the pressing issues surrounding reparations. Initiatives like this help cultivate critical thinking, empower youth, and amplify their voices in the ongoing calls for justice for the crimes committed during the horrific period of history. This competition is a vital step in educating the next generation and fostering global conversations on reparatory justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to The Repair Campaign, the CRR has received substantial backing from various partners, including the CARICOM Reparations Commission, the Jamaica Association for Debating and Empowerment, UWI Press, the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy, and the Wilberforce Institute in the UK. These collaborators share a common goal of advancing reparatory justice through debate, empowering young individuals to actively participate in the movement for reparations.<\/p>\n
The competition is a fundamental aspect of the CRR’s broader initiative to integrate reparatory justice education and advocacy into mainstream discussions. By involving youth in substantial dialogues about reparations and the history of Africa and the Caribbean, the CRR aims to inspire a new cohort of advocates who will continue the important work related to reparations in their communities.<\/p>\n