Every year on March 25th, the International Day of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is commemorated. 

 

 

♦ The United Nations` chief executive stressed in this speech that the negative and long-term effects of slavery must be discussed. He also urged a renewed commitment to a future in which everybody would live in harmony, dignity, and opportunity. 

♦ The anniversary is the United Nations` annual international commemoration, which took place on March 25, 2007. Remember those who suffered and died as a result of the "transatlantic slave trade" on this anniversary. This is regarded as the greatest abuse of human rights in history. 

♦ For over 4 million years, 15 million men, women, and children were victims of the transatlantic slave trade. The aim of the day is also to raise awareness of the current dangers of racism and discrimination. 

♦ The theme of "breaking the silence, lest we forget" was chosen for the first anniversary in 2008. "Women and Slavery" is the theme for 2015. The United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent started in the year 2015.  

♦ A permanent plaque, named "Return to the Ark," was unveiled at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to commemorate the event. Rodney Leon, a Haitian-American architect, designed it. 

♦ More than 40.3 million people were believed to be exploited in modern ways as of 2016. Women and girls account for 71% of them. Furthermore, children made up a quarter of all slaves.  

♦ Due to decreased work prospects, frequent immigration, increased poverty, and less labour inspections during the Covid-19 pandemic, modern slavery has gotten even more attention. People have become more vulnerable as a result of the pandemic, and more people are turning to exploited work.