UNITED NATIONS APPOINTS RUSSELL SIMMONS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR THE PERMANENT MEMORIAL

UNITED NATIONS APPOINTS RUSSELL SIMMONS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR THE PERMANENT MEMORIAL
Honoring The Victims Of Slavery And The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Photo Courtesy of Christina Paljusaj.

American entrepreneur, hip-hop and fashion pioneer, Russell Simmons was appointed the “Goodwill Ambassador For The Permanent Memorial To Honor The Victims Of Slavery And The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at 10:00 a.m. The hour-long ceremony was also doubled with the official launch of the Trust Fund for the Permanent Memorial which will acknowledge and benefit one of the most profoundly tragic periods in the history of humankind.

“It’s humbling to be invited to join the UN Community in this role as Goodwill Ambassador. In recognizing the past, we understand the stakes in ensuring that something as devastating to the human condition as the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade will never happen again,” stated Russell
Simmons. “My commitment in life is to be of service to the empowerment of young people living in struggle, who undoubtedly have been effected by this legacy. I look to the future with inspiration and faith as we work every day to bring freedom and equality to all young people around the world.”

To hear AUDIO from event, please click UN Audio

Co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations, the Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the African Union (AU) and in collaboration with the UN Office for Partnerships and the UN Department for Public Information, the event aims to re-engage the attention of the international community on the horrific nature of slavery, the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and its legacy of discrimination.

“We feel Mr. Simmons is an ideal candidate to espouse the broader concept and objectives of the initiative to erect this permanent memorial,” said Ambassador Raymond O. Wolfe, Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Chairman of the Permanent Memorial Committee. Simmons, voted among USA Today’s ‘Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 years’, “was an easy choice,” he added.

Ambassador Lila Ratsifandrihamanana of the African Union highlighted the commitment of African countries to the initiative referring to a decision taken at the 12th Assembly of Heads of State and Government which “recognizes the enduring and tragic impact of slave trade as a crime against humanity on the African people and its generations.”

Best known as a leading entrepreneur and hip-hop pioneer, Russell Simmons’ groundbreaking vision has influenced music and the recording industry, fashion, jewelry, finance, television and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy. As Chairman and CEO of Rush Communications, he has consistently leveraged his influence in the media and popular culture to benefit and acknowledge disadvantaged communities. A devoted yogi, Simmons also leads the non-profit division of his organization, Rush Community Affairs, ensuring its ongoing efforts to empower at-risk youth through the arts (Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation), social engagement (Hip-Hop Summit Action Network), and higher education for Africa (Diamond Empowerment Fund).

To see video from event, click UN VIDEO

Mr. Simmons, a native New Yorker and the proud father of two daughters, is also the Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, dedicated to bringing all religions and ethnicities together. He also serves on the Board of Directors of several organizations, including Petra Nemcova’s Happy Hearts Fund, and is involved in numerous cause initiatives to empower people to be aware of and embrace their full potential.

The Permanent Memorial, honoring the memory of the victims of slavery, will be administered through the Permanent Memorial Fund by the UN Office for Partnerships (UNOP).

Completion date for the Permanent Memorial is set for 2012.  So far, the Fund has received $250,000 of the projected $3.5 m cost from 25 of the 122 Member States, co-sponsors of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 63/5.

For more information about the Initiative and Mr. Simmons please contact Ms. Annette Richardson, Permanent Memorial Project Manager at 1+ (212) 963-1000 or via email at partner@un.org

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