International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed each year on December 2. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1986, the day highlights the persistence of slavery worldwide and calls for collective action to end it.

History

The date commemorates the UN’s adoption of the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others on December 2, 1949. Slavery dates back millennia: in ancient Greece, enslaved people were commonplace and in Rome they made up about 30 percent of the population, working in agriculture and households. The transatlantic slave trade began in the mid-16th century, forcibly exporting millions of Africans to labor in plantations across Brazil, the United States, Colombia, and elsewhere. Despite protests, the trade persisted until the 19th century. The Congress of Vienna condemned the slave trade in 1815, and the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention’s indefinite ban on forced labor has strengthened legal norms against slavery. Yet modern forms of slavery still violate international treaties, and much work remains.

Interesting Facts

• Anthony Johnson, an Angolan who arrived in Virginia in 1621 as an indentured servant, gained his freedom after 14 years and later became one of the first documented African landowners—and legally owned both Black and White indentured workers.
• During World War II, forced labor was used in the production of ballistic missiles and other war materials.
• Today, about 80 percent of people in modern slavery are exploited for sexual purposes.
• More than half of all people in slavery worldwide are women or girls.

How to Take Part

• Purchase from companies that certify their products are free of forced labor.
• Learn about contemporary slavery issues and support organizations fighting trafficking.
• Advocate for fair treatment of all individuals in your community and workplace.

When is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery in 2025?

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

Observations