International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is celebrated annually on March 25. The corresponding UN General Assembly resolution № A/RES/62/122 was issued on December 17, 2007.
The task of the international date — is to preserve the memory of transatlantic human trafficking and slavery, as well as to explain to future generations the causes and consequences of these phenomena.
The equally important goal of — is to convey information to society about the dangers posed by racial prejudice. In this regard, UN specialists have created an educational and educational program that should cover educational institutions and public organizations.
Commemorative events, which are held in many countries on March 25, are dedicated to the millions of people who at one time became victims of slavery. Program participants are trying to understand who these people were, how their destinies turned out, what memory they were able to leave about themselves.
Also, every year the Day’s events are dedicated to a specific topic, among which in different years were: «Break the veil of silence — hit the drum», «Realization of tragedy — the way to overcome its consequences», «Don’t be silent – remember!», «Expression of our freedom through culture», «Transatlantic slave trade: the living legacy of unknown 30 million people», «Honoring heroes, resistance and survivors», «Women and slavery», «Remember Slavery: Honoring the Heritage and Culture of the African Diaspora and Its Roots», «Let's Remember Slavery: Recognize the Legacy and Contribution of People of African Descent», «Remember Slavery: Victories and Struggles for Freedom and Equality», «Remember Slavery: The Power of Art in Justice», «Together confront the legacy of slavery and racism», «End the legacy of racism: Global imperative of justice», «Stories of courage: resistance to slavery and unity in the fight against racism» and others.
The transatlantic slave trade, which lasted 400 years, became the largest forced movement of people over a long distance in human history. UNESCO estimates that more than 18 million people were forcibly removed from Africa to the Americas (including the Caribbean) and Europe during that era. Slaves were shackled and transported in inhumane conditions. Over four centuries, the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean has become the common grave of millions of people who did not survive the difficult journey. In addition, millions of people died after arriving at destination — from torment and backbreaking slave labor.
In 2015, the «Ark of Return» memorial, created by Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon, was unveiled at the United Nations in New York. Inside the memorial, visitors can explore its three main elements: a three-dimensional map showing the slave trade routes; a full-length human figure against images of the interior of the ship, reminiscent of the harsh conditions of millions of Africans during their transportation; a triangle-shaped depression where visitors can honor the memory of the victims.