Remembering the Slave Trade to Fight Human Exploitation Today
Every year on August 23, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition invites us to remember a painful chapter in history while also reflecting on the forms of human exploitation that persist today.
This date commemorates the uprising that began on the night of August 22–23, 1791, in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Enslaved and formerly enslaved people rose up to demand freedom and equal rights. This movement played a decisive role in the struggle against the system of slavery and ultimately contributed to Haiti’s independence on January 1, 1804.
From Remembrance to Action
Through this international observance, UNESCO seeks to raise awareness of the history of the slave trade and slavery while drawing attention to contemporary forms of exploitation, including human trafficking and what is now referred to as “modern slavery.”
As Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, reminds us:
“It is time to abolish human exploitation once and for all and to recognize everywhere the equal and unconditional dignity of every individual.”
This call to bring together remembrance, education, and action resonate with the values of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM). Their educational mission and commitment to human dignity and social justice underscore the importance of better understanding the mechanisms that perpetuate exploitation, discrimination, and inequality so that we can help transform them.
Resources to Deepen Our Understanding
To explore this chapter of history further, UNESCO offers the Routes of Enslaved Peoples program, launched in 1994 to break the silence surrounding the slave trade and slavery while fostering reconciliation and intercultural dialogue.
An educational resource on slavery, available in French, also provides an opportunity to explore the subject in greater depth. A video resource invites viewers to reflect on this system of human trafficking, rooted in part on racism and the myth of white supremacy.
Remembering remains essential: understanding the injustices of the past helps us recognize those of the present and take action to build a society grounded in equality, justice, and the dignity of every person.