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!
Commemorative meeting of the General Assembly to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2024 Held pursuant to General Assembly resolution A/RES/73/345 of 16 September 2019.
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.
Followed by:
- Commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade - Item 118
- Culture of peace - Item 14 - Draft resolution (A/78/L.53); Action on the draft resolution
- Global health and foreign policy - Item 125 - Draft resolution (A/78/L.50); Draft amendment (A/78/L.55); Action on the draft amendment and the draft resolution.
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.
Joint statement of UN experts on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2024, March 25th.
“The International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is an important moment to reflect on and honour the millions of Africans who, over a period of 400 years, were cruelly uprooted from their communities and enslaved, in Europe and the Americas, in dehumanising and degrading conditions where they endured horrific violations of their human rights, deprivation of their identity and physical, mental, psychological and spiritual brutality.
This day serves as a reminder that the enslavement of Africans gave rise to the systemic racism and institutionalised racial discrimination that their descendants continue to experience today.
In commemorating this day, it is imperative to recognise that people of African descent are disproportionately affected by discrimination, marginalisation and social injustice. Economic disparities, limited access to quality education, health care, housing, employment, under-representation in political, public and private sector leadership, and over-representation in law enforcement especially in the criminal justice system remain their daily reality.
We urgently call for a strengthened collective commitment to acknowledge and redress the enduring disparities and inequalities that stem from this cruel chapter in history and continue to reverberate across generations. We urge States ensure effective participation of people of African descent in decision-making processes and implement reparatory justice measures to redress these long-standing injustices.
We also call on States to proclaim a second Decade for People of African Descent to sustain global efforts to promote the inclusive and sustained development of, advance reparatory justice for, and combat discrimination, systemic racism and social exclusion of people of African descent.”
The experts: Ms. Barbara Reynolds, Chairperson, Ms. Bina D’Costa and Ms. Miriam Ekiudoko, Members, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; Ms. June Soomer, Chairperson-Designate, Permanent Forum on People of African Descent; Mr. Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; and Ms. Akua Kuenyehia, Ms. Tracie Keesee, Mr. Juan Méndez, Experts, International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement.
Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN human rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organisation. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
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