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The slave trade has always been one of the most horrific infringements of human rights across all of human history. And worst of all was the 400-year transatlantic slave trade that victimized over 15 million men, women, and children forcibly removed from their tribes, villages, and homes in Africa.
Created by UNESCO to memorialize the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, Slavery Remembrance Day, also known as International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, is observed on August 23 worldwide. Upon this day, it’s important that we remember that this observance is not only a reminder of the horrors of slavery as we honor its victims — it’s also about our dedication across the globe to ensure that slavery, and the racism that caused it, is abolished once and for all.
Read President Biden’s statement marking the importance of Slavery Remembrance Day for August 2022 here.