International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition | 23rd August
Today we pause to remember the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade. #RemembranceoftheSlaveTrade
Why we remember
From the 16th to the 19th century, over 400 years, nearly 13 million Africans were forcibly shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, mostly from central and western Africa.
The journey was brutal. About 2.4 million people died from disease, starvation, and violence. Others endured being chained, sexual abuse, and extreme heat. Some were thrown overboard.
The night of August 22-23, 1791 marked a turning point. In Santo Domingo, now Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Black revolutionaries rose up against slave owners. By 1804 they had defeated French, Spanish, and British forces. That uprising helped set the stage for the abolition of the entire transatlantic slave trade.
Key dates
1808: Importing slaves to the United States was outlawed
1833: Britain abolished the slave trade
1850: Brazil outlawed the slave trade
How to observe
- Learn about the history of the slave trade and how abolition changed the world
- Watch films like _Roots_ or _Uncle Tom’s Cabin_ that address slavery
- Visit a museum or historic site, in person or online, that educates on the slave trade
- Join events, lectures, or artistic expressions organized in your community
- Show your support to end modern slavery using #RemembranceoftheSlaveTrade
History of the Day
UNESCO adopted August 23rd as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition in 1997. Since 1998, countries around the world have marked the day with cultural events, debates, and acts of remembrance.
Today we honor the memory of those who suffered and resisted, and we reaffirm our commitment to dignity and freedom for all.
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