One audience member, who identified himself as a Muslim from the north of the Sudan, rejected the notion that religion and race play into the enslavement.
"There is no doubt a problem of slavery in the Sudan, but to frame it in a racial or religious context is counterproductive," he said.
Part of the panel's function is simply to inform people that slavery is ongoing, Williams said. "Many of us are under the understanding that slavery ended in 1865 with the Emancipation Proclamation" he said.
Sage repeatedly encouraged audience members to protest the U.S. government's lack of explicit condemnation of slavery in the Sudan.
Patten outlined the U.S. procedure on countering slavery as prosecution of traffickers, protection and assistance of victims and prevention of trafficking through various programs.
"There is a need for a forceful response," she said.
Bok raised concerns about President Clinton's action on the slavery in his home country. "We have a question: Why has President Clinton not spoken out on slavery in Sudan?" he asked.
Read more in News
Schor To Leave Harvard For B.C.Recommended Articles
-
Pledging His Life To Fight SlaveryWhen Gerald L. "Jay" Williams '03 first came upon a clearing where hundreds of newly freed Sudanese slaves sat under
-
Slavery Still Scars Our WorldWhen is the last time that you had an informal discussion with your friends about slavery? Chances are, if you
-
Yesterday Rwanda, Today SudanTo commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, the United Nations declared yesterday, April 7, to be the first
-
While We Were Sleeping...Last April, existing tensions between Arab nomads and black African farmers in Sudan exploded in an incident where African rebels
-
Endowment Tied to SudanHarvard has invested millions of dollars in a Chinese oil company whose financial dealings with the Sudanese government, human rights
-
Petition Targets Links To SudanMore than 100 Harvard students have signed a petition urging Harvard to sell its shares in PetroChina, a Beijing-based oil
