2021 Theme: “Ending Slavery’s Legacy of Racism: A Global Imperative for Justice”

The theme reflects the global movement to end injustices whose roots lie in the slave trade. The theme highlights the importance of educating about the history of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, to bring about an acknowledgment of slavery’s impact on the modern world, and action to address its long-lasting effects. The theme guides the Programme’s development of educational outreach and remembrance to mobilize action against prejudice, racism and injustice.

4 March, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST

Virtual Discussion, “Return to the Root: Exploring Racism Through Dance” 
DGC’s Outreach Programme on slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, together with Lehigh University, presents an online discussion with Mark Wilson, Executive Director of Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University, and Rafael Palacios, Artistic Director of Afro-Colombian dance company Sankofa Danzafro. The discussion will explore the themes of systemic racism, the legacy of slavery throughout African diaspora populations, and how we can participate in this discussion globally through multiple art forms. The discussion will have Spanish interpretation. Register here for the virtual discussion.

24 March, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST

Virtual Round-table Discussion of screening of episode 1: Enslaved
DGC’s Outreach Programme on slavery and the transatlantic slave trade will be screening over the next six months, the six-part series, Enslaved presented by Samuel L. Jackson, Afua Hirsch and Simcha Jacobovici. A panel discussion of the first episode will take place virtually on 24 March at 1:00 p.m. Register here for the virtual roundtable.

25 March

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
The United Nations will commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on 25 March under the theme “Ending Slavery’s Legacy of Racism: A Global Imperative for Justice”. Events to mark the day will include a virtual cultural event from 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and a commemorative meeting of the General Assembly, which will be held in person 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

25 March, 8.45 a.m. to 10.00 a.m.

Cultural event, Co-organized by the UNITED Nations Department of Global Communications, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
The event consists of several pre-recorded segments that will include musical performances, a mini-documentary, a multilingual poetry reading with diverse representation, and a discussion. Register here for the cultural event.

25 March, 10:00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.

General Assembly meeting to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
The Commemorative meeting of the General Assembly, chaired by the PGA, will be held on 25 March from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Lisa Coleman, senior vice president for global inclusion and strategic innovation at New York University (NYU). The commemorative meeting will be live-streamed on UN Web TV.

31 March, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Ending slavery’s legacy of racism through the arts. Episode 1: Discussion of screening Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts
DGC’s Outreach Programme on slavery and the transatlantic slave trade will host a discussion with film director, art museum curators, artist and archivists about the film, Bill Traylor:Chasing Ghosts, a documentary about artist Bill Traylor. Born into slavery, Traylor lived through the period following emancipation, and witness the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The discussion will consider Traylor’s legacy, and the relationship between art, justice and the legacy of slavery. Register here for the discussion.