International Day to Remember Slave Trade Victims Commemorated under Theme ‘Women and Slavery’

The United Nations observes on 25 March the eighth International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.  An estimated 15 million men, women and children were victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, the largest forced migration in history.

The 2015 theme, “Women and Slavery”, pays tribute to these women, as well as those who fought for freedom from slavery and advocated for its abolition.  It also celebrates the strength of enslaved women, who succeeded in transmitting their African culture to their descendants despite the many abuses that they had to bear.  “Women slaves played a key role in maintaining the dignity of their communities.  Too often their leadership and brave resistance have been underestimated or forgotten,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

This year also marks the historic unveiling at the permanent memorial to the victims of the transatlantic slave trade, The Ark of Return, designed by Rodney Leon, an American architect of Haitian descent.  The memorial represents a vessel to acknowledge the millions of African people transported under severely extreme conditions on slave ships during what is known as the Middle Passage.  Built on the Visitors Plaza at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, it will help visitors, the general public and students to acknowledge the tragedy, consider the legacy of slavery and never forget those who endured its horrors.

Following the unveiling, the General Assembly will hold a special commemorative meeting where Sylviane Diouf, a renowned historian and director of the Lapidus Center for the Historical Analysis of Transatlantic Slavery at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, will deliver the keynote address.

A cultural and culinary event will take place in the evening of 25 March celebrating the heritage and traditions which enslaved Africans brought to Europe and the Americas.  Pierre Thiam, a chef and culinary ambassador, will present a wide range of food that illustrates the impact of the Middle Passage on culinary traditions in the countries that participated in the transatlantic slave trade.  Drummers and dancers of the Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre will perform during the day’s events.  The group, which is produced and choreographed by Djoniba Mouflet, will follow the journey of the African Diaspora.

Additional activities include a non-governmental organization briefing on “Women and slavery:  its impact on women’s rights today”, on 26 March.  A global videoconference on 27 March will give students from Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States the opportunity to make presentations and engage in live interaction on this year’s theme.  The United Nations Information Centres will organize a number of commemorative and educational activities around the world.

The Remember Slavery Programme, managed by the Department of Public Information, was established by the General Assembly in 2007 to honour the memory of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.  It also aims at raising awareness of the dangers of racism and prejudice today with activities held and educational materials produced throughout the year.

To help commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on 25 March, please follow the Programme on Facebook at http://facebook.com/rememberslavery, on Twitter @rememberslavery and visit http://rememberslavery.un.org.  For media accreditation, please register at www.un.org/en/media/accreditation.  For more information, please contact Laurence Gerard at tel.:  +1 212 963 0629 or e-mail:  gerardl@un.org.