UNESCO recognizes the slavery archive in Aruba as part of "Memories of the World."
ORANJESTAD—Prime Minister of Aruba, mr. Mike Eman, Minister of Kingdom Relations, Education, Youth, Innovation, and Sports, mr. Gerlien Croes, in the presence of leaders of the National Library of Aruba (BNA) and the National Archives of Aruba (ANA), shared the historic news that UNESCO officially accepts the documentation accumulated by BNA and ANA, related to the history of slavery in Aruba, in its prestigious register "Memories of the World."
This award is an international recognition of great value for Aruba. The government emphasizes the importance of this archive as a valuable heritage that forms an essential part of our national identity. ANA and BNA have worked hard to inventory, categorize, and digitize all relevant documents to make them accessible to the entire community. This archive is complete, in chronological order, well-structured, and aligned with UNESCO standards.
These documents and stories reflect the history of slavery, colonization, and the struggle for autonomy. From the time of the indigenous people, colonization, and slavery to the fight against decisions taken by others, Aruba has always shown a strong desire to determine its future and progress. It is part of our DNA, our ability to survive and thrive self-sufficiently.
At the end of the ceremony, UNESCO handed over a special flag to the National Archives of Aruba, symbolizing the worldwide recognition of the effort to preserve and value our history. The Prime Minister thanked UNESCO for its coordination, the director of ANA, Dr. Raymond Hernandez, the director of BNA, Mrs. Astrid Britten, and all those who have dedicated a lot of time and energy to document history and bring it back to life, both in exhibitions and in poems, stories, and songs that revive our past.
It is a time to celebrate, reflect, and continue working on a future that honors our past and the struggles that brought us here.
