International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Elimination (23/08)

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition is celebrated around the world annually on August 23.

This date was set in 1998 on the recommendation of the 150th session of the UNESCO executive board on the day of the slave uprising of San Domingo and Haiti in 1791, which marked the beginning of the process of eliminating the slavery system. UNESCO invites all UN member states to take part in commemorative events.

At the beginning of the third millennium, the authorities of the American state of Ohio timed the opening of a museum of the history of slavery to coincide with the Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its liquidation. The International Slavery Museum opened in Liverpool on August 23, 2007, which is dedicated primarily to the transatlantic slave trade. On the island of Gori off the coast of Senegal, which was the main transit point for slave traders, a ceremony is held annually to commemorate the victims of the slave trade.

Slavery is an unprecedented tragedy and one of the darkest pages of human history. It was widespread until the late 19th century. According to experts, approximately 13 million people were captured and sold into slavery in the 15th and 19th centuries.

On this international date, the world community remembers not only the historical events of 1791, but also pays tribute to all those who contributed to the beginning of the process of destroying the slave trade and slavery throughout the world.

Even though slavery has been abolished and condemned internationally, it still exists in new forms and affects millions today. According to the UN, every year the victims of deception and violence are mainly women and children, they are turned into «live goods» and exploited. And the annual income from human trafficking is $150 billion – is the world's largest source of illegal profits.

«The new slave trade» has become one of the most pressing and widespread problems of our time.

Some countries celebrate their holidays — days of liberation from slavery. For example, Jamaica celebrates Emancipation Day on August 1st.

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