United Nations Information Centres (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵICs), Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs) and other Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ entities worldwide marked the 2026 International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade under the theme ¡°Justice in Action: Confronting History, Advancing Dignity, Empowering Futures.¡±
The Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery provided field offices with the exhibit ¡°Who Were the Enslaved? Commemorating Lives Under Enslavement at the Cape of Good Hope¡±, produced by the Iziko Museums of South Africa; and evergreen videos on the and the Ark of Return. The Outreach Programme produced social media cards to promote the day in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Additionally, field offices raised awareness of the United Nations General Assembly¡¯s resolution adopted on 25 March 2026 recognizing the trafficking of enslaved Africans and the system of racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as ¡°the gravest crime against humanity¡±.
Here is a snapshot of some of the happenings around the world:
Photo: Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC Accra
Accra, Ghana ¨C Online posts about the landmark resolution spearheaded by the Republic of Ghana
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC Accra amplified, through its social media channels, United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/250, spearheaded by the Republic of Ghana and adopted on 25 March 2026, marking the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The resolution was introduced by Ghana¡¯s President, H.E. Mr. John Dramani Mahama. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC Accra produced a video featuring the President¡¯s remarks and educational activities conducted in previous years with local schools in collaboration with the Outreach Programme, showcasing efforts to educate young people about the transatlantic slave trade in enslaved Africans and its enduring legacy.
Watch the v¨ªdeo
Photo: Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC Dakar
Dakar, Senegal ¨C High-Level Expert Forum on the Transatlantic Slave Trade: Memory, Criminalization and Reparations
On 7 May, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC Dakar and the West African Research Centre (WARC) convened a high-level expert forum on General Assembly resolution A/RES/80/250, adopted on 25 March 2026, recognizing the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement as ¡°the gravest crime against humanity.¡± Bringing together historians, legal scholars and archaeologists, the discussion examined the resolution¡¯s historical, legal and political significance, particularly for debates on historical justice and reparations. Attended by around 60 participants, including diplomats, academics, journalists, students, former government officials and civil society representatives, the event featured a message from Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres delivered by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC Dakar Director Hiroyuki Saito.
Learn more
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ¨C Social Media posts featuring Brazilian singer IZA
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIC Rio marked the International Day by promoting the Secretary-General¡¯s video message in Portuguese and highlighting Brazilian singer IZA¡¯s visit to the ¡°Ark of Return¡±, the United Nations Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. IZA¡¯s engagement with the Outreach Programme is part of a broader effort to raise public awareness of the ¡°Ark of Return¡± and educate global audiences about the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans. The Brazilian singer is featured on the Programme¡¯s 2026 commemorative card marking the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.