On the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the enduring legacy of these atrocities and urged global action against racism and discrimination during a ceremony held on Tuesday in New York.
Guterres emphasized that the transatlantic slave trade, though abolished in the 19th century, continues to have profound and lasting effects in the present day.
For over four centuries, approximately 25 to 30 million Africans were forcibly removed from their homelands and subjected to inhumane conditions of enslavement across the Atlantic. This history of suffering and exploitation stands as a stark reminder of human greed. Guterres condemned any attempts at historical revisionism, stating, “The obscene profits derived from slavery and the racist ideologies that underpinned the trade are still with us.”
The date of March 25th commemorates the 1807 adoption of the British law that banned the slave trade, following the Haitian Revolution. However, even after abolition, many former slaves did not receive reparations, and nations like Haiti were compelled to pay substantial indemnities to France, hindering their economic development for generations. Guterres stressed, “Acknowledging this truth is not just necessary—it’s vital to repair past wrongs, heal the present, and build a future of dignity and justice for all.”
Guterres called upon governments, businesses, and civil society to take decisive steps to combat racism and discrimination. “Today is not only a day of remembrance. It’s also a day to reflect on the lasting scars of slavery and colonialism and to renew our resolve to fight these evils today,” he asserted.
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