Every year on 23 August, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition commemorates the millions of people subjected to enslavement and honours those who resisted the transatlantic slave trade and fought for freedom.

The date recalls the uprising that began during the night of 22–23 August 1791 in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti. This revolt played a decisive role in the Haitian Revolution and contributed to the eventual abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. The International Day was first observed in Haiti in 1998 and on Gorée Island, Senegal, in 1999.

UNESCO established the observance to ensure that the tragedy of the slave trade remains part of the collective memory of all peoples. It encourages reflection on its historical causes, methods and consequences, as well as on the relationships it created among Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.

Remembering the slave trade is not limited to examining the past. The systems of racial classification, exploitation and dehumanisation developed through slavery continue to influence contemporary societies. Their legacies can be seen in structural racism, discrimination, social and economic inequality, and the marginalisation of people of African descent.

Commemoration therefore requires both historical recognition and present-day action. Education, cultural preservation and open public discussion are essential for challenging distorted or incomplete accounts of slavery, recognising the resistance and agency of enslaved people, and confronting the inequalities that emerged from this history.

Through initiatives such as the Routes of Enslaved Peoples: Resistance, Liberty and Heritage project, UNESCO works to break the silence surrounding slavery, preserve related histories and heritage, and promote intercultural understanding.

The Day reminds us that inclusion and social justice depend on confronting historical injustice, rejecting all forms of human exploitation and affirming the equal and unconditional dignity of every person.