Key Points
Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Tuesday (local time) his country should apologise and take responsibility for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, the first time a leader of the southern European nation has suggested such a national apology...
But so far, Portugal has rarely commented on its past and little is taught about its role in slavery in schools...
Reparations and public policies to fight inequalities caused by Portugal's past were essential, Cardoso said.. Rebelo de Sousa made the remarks after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was in Portugal on his first visit to Europe since assuming office, addressed the Portuguese parliament..
"(But) on the bad side, the exploitation of Indigenous people...slavery, the sacrifice of the interests of Brazil and Brazilians," he said.. Brazil's human rights minister, Silvio Almeida, said Rebelo de Sousa took an "extremely important" step...
Europe's top human rights group previously said Portugal had to do more to confront its colonial past and role in the transatlantic slave trade in order to help fight racism and discrimination today..
