PURPOSE: Every year on 25 March, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade offers the opportunity to honor and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The International Day also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today. The racist legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade reverberates today in harmful prejudices and beliefs which are still being perpetuated and continue to impact people of African descent across the world. Transformative education, which seeks to empower learners to see the social world critically and through an ethical lens to challenge and change the status quo as agents of change is essential to the work of teaching and learning about slavery in order to end racism and injustice and to build inclusive societies based on dignity and human rights for all people, everywhere.
FORUM: "Creating Global Freedom: Countering Racism with Justice in Societies and Among Nations." International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade 2024. The transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans represents one of the most horrific and traumatizing eras in human history.This racialized system of enslavement abducted, trafficked, and brutally dehumanized Africans and their descendants over centuries, leaving a pernicious legacy of racism grounded in the false narrative of white supremacy.A critical way to counter racism with justice is to acknowledge the fundamental dignity, equality, and rights of people of African descent within communities, institutions, policies, laws and governing bodies. Recognizing the egregious history and legacies of enslavement, the United Nations will step up efforts to address racism, intolerance, bigotry and hatred, to advance the cause of global freedom.Follow the conversation with the hashtags #Rememberslavery!
EVENTS: On March 25th, we will commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2024; This year marks the 217th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade and the 23rd anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). It’s a time to reflect on a shameful era. On a brutal system of human trafficking which was built on the myth of white supremacy. Today we remember those who suffered and resisted oppression and we honor them by fighting for equality and justice. Explore the agenda programme!
From March 19th - April 25th, 2024 an exhibit on “enslavement in South Africa” to open at UN Headquarters.
The United Nations Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery in collaboration with the Iziko Museums of South Africa will display an adaptation of the exhibit “Who were the enslaved? Commemorating lives under enslavement at the Cape of Good Hope”. Originally displayed at the Iziko Slave Lodge in Cape Town in 2023, the exhibit examines slavery in South Africa and highlights stories of individuals enslaved at the Slave Lodge. The exhibition will be on display in the Visitors Lobby at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Link to UN Press Release.
On March 25th, 2024 at UNHQ, Meeting to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade
The United Nations General Assembly will hold a meeting in the General Assembly Hall in New York to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Speakers will include the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General and Member States. The keynote speaker will be Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Commission on Reparation and Social Justice. The youth speaker will be Yolanda Renee King, author and granddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Watch live on UN WebTV.
From 25 March - 28 March 2024 will be held a New exhibit to highlight tragic “Ibo Landing” history.
The United Nations Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery is supporting the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on the display of their powerful new exhibit entitled “Ibo Landing”. The Ibo, also referred to as Igbo, are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. In 1803, a group of enslaved people from this region committed one of history’s most grievous acts of resistance in defiance of enslavement. This exhibit captures the sorrow and horrors of this historic event that took place in the US state of Georgia, through original drawings by Jamaican-American artist Donovan Nelson. The exhibit will be on display at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Link to UN Press Release
STATEMENTS: “Let Us Unite for Human Rights, Dignity, Opportunity for All’’. Read the full Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General, on the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade 2024. March 25th.
PODCASTS: For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest chapters in human history. United Nations Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: "It’s a time to reflect on a shameful era.", Remember Slavery; Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
We celebrate the day to focus on the power of education to fight discrimination against Afro-descendants. The Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery was established in 2007 with the adoption of General Assembly resolution 62/122. The Programme raises awareness of the history of the transatlantic slave trade, its impact on the modern world, and its legacies, including racism and prejudice.
Read the UNESCO Declaration of the International Scientific Committee of the Slave Route Project: resistance, liberty, heritage to learn more.
Commemorate the dramatic page in our history, during which +15 million African men, women and children experienced one of the worst forms of abuse+violations of their human rights.
Build societies based on equality.
Visit Slavery museum and exhibits related to the legacies of the translatlantic slave trade.
Participate to the Project “Fostering Rights Inclusion - The Slave Routes. International Scientific Committee’’. The project benefits from the guidance of an International Scientific Committee composed of 20 members, half of whom are renewed every two years. These members are appointed by the Director General in respect of the representation of different regions, disciplines and gender. The role of this advisory body is to advise UNESCO on the implementation of the project, in particular with regard to the development of educational material and programmes, research into various aspects of the slave trade and slavery and the formation of new partnerships to promote its objectives.
The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is co-organized by the Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, the United Nations General Assembly, the UNESCO, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the UN Human Right Office and the High commissioner of Human Rights.
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Educating on the transatlantic slave trade and its legacies, including racism.