International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is a yearly event on December 2, organized since 1986 by the United Nations General Assembly. The day draws attention to slavery that still exists in the world and calls on people to unite to eradicate it.

History

The date of the holiday was not chosen by chance. On December 2, 1949, the UN adopted a resolution to combat human trafficking. The ancient Greeks believed that slavery was a common story, so it did not cause shame. They also spread this idea around the world. In Rome, the enslaved accounted for 30% of the total population: they were engaged in plantations, farms, and growing crops for sale.

In the middle of the 16th century, the “transatlantic slave trade” began. It consisted of the export of Africans from West Africa. Enslaved people worked in Brazil, the USA, Colombia, etc. During this period, many protests were recorded, but this did not prevent the activity from surviving until the 19th century. The slave trade was first openly condemned by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The modern perception of slavery in some areas still reigns. All who are involved in it do not comply with world treaties. There is still a lot of work ahead to change the situation for the better!

Interesting facts

• One of America’s first legal slave owners was African American Anthony Johnson. He had a busy life: he was born in Angola, ransomed by Arab merchants. In 1621, he arrived in the United States, bought by a tobacco plantation farmer. After 14 years, he received freedom and acquired four white slaves and one black person.
• In 1940, enslaved labor was used to produce ballistic missiles.
• About 80% of the victims are currently being used for sexual exploitation.
• Statistics say that more than half of the abducted people are women.

How to take part

• Buy products from trusted manufacturers who do not use slave labor.
• Learn more about current issues, and visit organizations struggling with terrible statistics.
• Don’t oppress others; make sure you treat everyone equally.

When is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery in 2024?

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed on December 2 each year.

Observations