International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

The slave trade is a part of our history that must be condemned and never forgotten. Therefore, Unite fully supports the call for a national day of remembrance.

From 1562 when slavery began to 1865 when the transatlantic slave trade was abolished, between 10 and 28 million African men, women and children were enslaved, persecuted and their human rights denied. By the end of slavery millions had lost their lives.

Unite pays tribute to all those who campaigned – black and white – to abolish the trafficking of enslaved African labour, particularly the enslaved African men and women themselves, former African slaves such as Olaudah Equiano and Ignatius Sancho, white working class groups, parliamentarians such as William Wilberforce and many others.

Unite calls on the government to support the organisation of an annual Remembrance Day that includes educational resources and awareness raising. The disproportionate impact of the high cost of living and lack of workers’ rights including the two-tier employment status has exposed the reality of BAEM people’s daily lives.