IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 482
Recognizing and celebrating the abolition of slavery more than 150 years 
ago in the Latin American countries of Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, 
Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, and Venezuela, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 22, 2004
Mr. MEEKS of New York (for himself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. LEE, Mr. 
RUSH, Mr. RANGEL, and Mr. CUMMINGS) submitted the following concur-
rent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Re-
lations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing and celebrating the abolition of slavery more 
than 150 years ago in the Latin American countries 
of Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, 
Argentina, Peru, and Venezuela, and for other purposes.
Whereas the institution of slavery was a key factor in the so-
cial, historical, and economic development of a majority 
of the countries of Latin America; 
Whereas it is estimated that between 1518 and 1870 more 
than 5,000,000 enslaved blacks from Africa were brought 
to Latin America; 
Whereas Portugal brought the largest number of enslaved 
blacks from Africa to Latin America, primarily to Brazil;
•HCON 482 IH 
Whereas enslaved blacks formed the primary labor force in 
Latin American countries and worked to produce sugar, 
tobacco, coffee, and other products; 
Whereas beginning in the 1820s and ending in the 1850s, the 
majority of Latin American countries—Mexico, Chile, 
Uruguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, 
and Venezuela—abolished slavery and Brazil abolished 
slavery in 1888; 
Whereas many individuals and groups aided in the emanci-
pation of enslaved blacks in Latin America, including 
Zumbi of Brazil, who led enslaved blacks against the Por-
tuguese in Quilombo dos Palmares, Brazil; Juan 
Adresote, who fought Spanish colonizers in Venezuela; 
Yanga, a Nigerian who was brought to Mexico and 
enslaved, and who negotiated with Spanish colonists in 
Mexico; and Benkos Bioho of Colombia, who helped to es-
tablish a liberated community of former enslaved blacks 
in Colombia, one of the first such communities in the 
Americas; 
Whereas, even after the abolition of slavery in Latin Amer-
ican countries, former enslaved blacks and their descend-
ants were left victim to social and institutional racial dis-
crimination; and 
Whereas, as a result of slavery in Latin America, the de-
scendants of enslaved blacks currently comprise approxi-
mately 30 percent of the population in Latin American 
countries and continue to greatly impact the social, polit-
ical, and cultural environment in Latin America: Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress—
•HCON 482 IH 
(1) recognizes and celebrates the abolition of 
slavery more than 150 years ago in the Latin Amer-
ican countries of Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, 
Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, and Venezuela; 
(2) recognizes the social, political, and cultural 
contributions of enslaved blacks and their descend-
ants in Latin America; 
(3) acknowledges the impact of slavery and the 
existence of racial discrimination that have led to 
disparate social conditions and lack of civil liberties 
in Latin America; 
(4) urges the United States Government to 
work with the governments of Latin American coun-
tries to promote the visibility of the descendants of 
enslaved blacks in such countries and to recognize 
the importance of supporting international and re-
gional efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimi-
nation, such as the International Convention on the 
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 
(signed at New York on December 21, 1965); and 
(5) urges the countries of Latin America to 
work with the United States and the international 
community to assist in addressing poverty and other 
targets in accordance with the United Nations Mil-
lennium Development Goals (as contained in United
•HCON 482 IH 
Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/2 (Sep-
tember 2000)).
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