Intl’ Day

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

Intl’ Day

August 23rd

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

?   The #IntlDay summarised

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples.

The night of 22 to 23 August 1791, in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic) saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. In accordance with the goals of the intercultural project “The Slave Route”, it should offer an opportunity for collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of this tragedy, and for an analysis of the interactions to which it has given rise between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.

The Director-General of UNESCO invites the Ministers of Culture of all Member States to organise events every year on that date, involving the entire population of their country and in particular young people, educators, artists and intellectuals.

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was first celebrated in a number of countries, in particular in Haiti (23 August 1998) and Goree in Senegal (23 August 1999). Cultural events and debates too were organised. The year 2001 saw the participation of the Mulhouse Textile Museum in France in the form of a workshop for fabrics called “Indiennes de Traite” (a type of calico) which served as currency for the exchange of slaves in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Circular CL/3494 of 29 July 1998 from the Director-General to Ministers of Culture invites all the Member States to organise events to mark 23 August each year. The UNESCO Executive Board adopted Resolution 29 C/40 at its 29th session.

?️ #KeyInformation

Proclaimed: 1998
Date: Aug 23rd
By: UNESCO

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?️ A word from Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO

“The Slave Route Project, launched by UNESCO in 1994, has made it possible to identify the ethical, cultural and socio-political issues of this painful history. By developing a multidisciplinary approach, which links historical, memorial, creative, educational and heritage dimensions, this project has contributed to enriching our knowledge of the slave trade and spreading a culture of peace. On this International Day, UNESCO invites everyone, including public authorities, civil society, historians, researchers and ordinary citizens, to mobilise in order to raise awareness about this history that we share and to oppose all forms of modern slavery.”

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

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Learn more about the history and the abolition of the slave trade.

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This International Day is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples, and to analyse the interactions that gave rise to such a tragedy.

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Why are International Days important? They provide unique opportunities to transmit UNESCO values to the world.

International days also provide a unique opportunity to engage citizens on global issues, to mobilise political will and resources to address these problems, but also to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity as well as remember some of our darkest times as they guide us towards building a better world.

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