International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade observed

25 March: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2015 was observed globally on 25 March 2015. The theme for the year 2015 is Women and Slavery.

The theme is a tribute to the many women who suffered and died during the slave trade.

On this occasion the United Nations (UN) unveiled a permanent memorial for victims of transatlantic trade, named as Arc of Retrun, at the UN headquarters in New York. The memorial reminds not only the gross injustice done to African slaves but also the successful journey of the UN in restoring their dignity by actively condemning the practice.

Background

The decision to observe the Remembrance Day was taken by the UN in its resolution 62/122 of 17 December 2007.

The resolution also called for the establishment of an outreach programme to mobilize educational institutions, civil society and other organizations to inculcate in future generations the causes, consequences and lessons of the transatlantic slave trade, and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice.

The theme for the year 2014 was Victory over Slavery: Haiti and Beyond.