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

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

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is an annual observance initiated by UNESCO to honour the memory of millions of people who suffered and perished during the transatlantic slave trade. The day aims to remind people of the historical significance of this dark period and encourages reflection on the progress made towards a more inclusive and just global society. Through this observance, UNESCO promotes global education and dialogue, which plays a crucial role in confronting the lasting effects of this tragic chapter in human history.

While the transatlantic slave trade primarily took place between African and American territories, including the Caribbean, it also holds significant relevance in Australia. Despite being distant geographically, the oppression of Indigenous populations during Australia's colonization shares haunting similarities with the experience of those enslaved in other parts of the world. The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition offers an opportunity for Australians to confront the painful history of colonization on this continent, as well as recognise and celebrate the resilience of Indigenous communities.

In Australia, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition is marked on August 23rd each year. Various events and activities are organised to commemorate this day, including educational programs, panel discussions, lectures, workshops, and film screenings. Public institutions, civil society organisations, and Indigenous communities join hands to raise awareness and engage in dialogue about the importance of acknowledging the shared history, addressing contemporary issues related to social justice and human rights, and paying tribute to those who suffered and lost their lives due to slavery.

Facts about this day

• According to gilderlehrman.org, from 1526 to 1867, some 12.5 million slaves were shipped from Africa. Only about 10.7 million arrived in the Americas.
• About 90% of enslaved Africans were imported into the Caribbean and South America. Despite this, by 1825, the US population included about 1/4 of the people of African descent in the New World.
• The legacy of slavery and segregation has resulted in ongoing economic disparities between different racial and ethnic groups in many societies across the globe.
• Around 60,000 South Sea Islanders, most of them from Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, were brought to Australia under blackbirding conditions. They were known as Kanakas, and many of them were forced into labor or worked under extremely exploitative conditions.
• Australia inherited anti-slavery laws from Britain following the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire in 1807 and the Slavery Abolition Act passed in 1833. As a British colony, Australia had to abide by these laws, which meant the transatlantic slave trade did not extend to the region.

In the News and Trending in Australia for International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition

Top things to do in Australia for this observance

• Learn more about UNESCO's Slave Route Project. Their project focuses on raising awareness about the slave trade and slavery. It hopes to highlight the cultural interactions that have resulted from global slavery.
• Listen to an episode of UN and Africa. This podcast features constitutional law professor Gloria Browne-Marshall as she discusses the effects of the transatlantic slave trade.
• Watch Blackbird (2015). This film sheds light on the lesser-known aspect of Australia's blackbirding history, which involved the kidnapping of South Sea Islanders to work on sugar plantations in Queensland.
• Visit the First Australians gallery at the Museum of Victoria in Melbourne. This gallery shares stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, exploring their history and culture.