The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is annually observed across the globe on 25th March to honour and remember the victims of the brutal slavery system.
The day aims to create awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice.The theme of International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2021 is “Ending Slavery’s Legacy of Racism: A Global Imperative for Justice”.
Background:
The United Nations General assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/62/122 on 17th December 2007 and proclaimed the 25th March of every year as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Transatlantic Slave Trade:
i.The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced and most inhumane migration in history.
ii.As the direct result of the transatlantic slave trade, the greatest movement of the Africans to America with around 96% of the captives from Africa were migrated to South America and the Caribbean Islands on slave ships.
Memorials:
i.To honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, a memorial was erected at the UN Headquarters in New York.
ii.The memorial – “The Ark of Return” designed by Rodney Leon, an American architect of Haitian descent was unveiled on 25th March 2015.
