Remember Slavery – Not a Thing of the Past

Every year on March 25, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade offers the opportunity to honour and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system and it is a reminder to work against all forms of modern slavery.

From the mid-fifteenth century and until the end of the nineteenth century, Africa suffered from the trade in transatlantic slaves to the Western Hemisphere. It is estimated that this forced migration was between 12 and 15 million people.

According to the website 50forfreedom.org, “slavery is not a thing of the past.” Today we talk about modern slavery and human trafficking.

In theory, slavery was abolished years ago, but in reality, there are more slaves today than at any other time in history. The 2018 Global Slavery Index, estimated 40.3 million people were in modern slavery in 2016, including millions of people in forced labour, and millions in forced marriages.

Modern Day Slaves stories

This International Day has also the purpose of raising awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.

To remember slavery, a message from the United Nations Secretary-General for 2019, António Guterres.

No human should be treated as a commodity. Today, you also have the chance to support the fight against child slavery.

If you would like to help to end modern slavery, please join the 50 for Freedom Campaign and find out what you can do, online and in your community, to make a difference.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, handed on for them to do the same”. Be part of the generation that strives to protect people and prevent crime!