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Theme for 2013: "Forever Free: Celebrating Emancipation"
See the original post at the UN site here…
"For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest chapters in human history.
"The annual observance of 25 March as the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade serves as an opportunity to honour and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system, and to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.
"This year’s theme, “Forever Free: Celebrating Emancipation,” pays tribute to the emancipation of slaves in nations across the world. This year is particularly important with many key anniversaries, including 220 years since France’s General Emancipation decree liberated all slaves in present-day Haiti; 180 years since the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 ended slavery in Canada, the British West Indies and the Cape of Good Hope; and 170 years ago, the Indian Slavery Act of 1843 was signed. Slavery was also abolished 165 years ago in France; 160 years ago in Argentina; 150 years ago in the Dutch colonies; and 125 years ago in Brazil.
"2013 is also the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States, which declared that, on 1 January 1863, all persons held as slaves within any States, or designated part of the State, the people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free."
Maybe they'll start to protest modern day slavery as well? But we tend to forget that slavery was a government institution in the first place.
During the African slave trade more than 15 million Africans perished. The former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young stated during a speech at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York, circa 1982-1983 that some historians states that over 100 million Africans perished during the slave trade that started in 1502 and was officially abolished in 1865. Today slavery is still de rigueur with people who are compelled to work below minimum wages or starvation wages to support the rich extravaganza life style
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Like Hitler and his annihilation of humans this is deplorable that “mankind” could do these things to each other. And it continues in some countries to this day and it is government policy or supported by governments. Despicable.
You do not appear to have finished your sentence – “to support the rich and extravagant lifestyle” … of?
Fifteen million, one hundred million why not one hundred and fifty million lives loss due to the tragedy of slavery.. Andrew Young is not a very creditable source as he always had a tendency to grossly exaggerate the truth in order to reinforce his political posture.. Lets us not forget that Communist China holds the world’s record for deaths at about 83 million followed by the Soviet Union with about 34 million.. The Holocaust under Nazi Germany has about 6 million deaths.. These were low points in the history of mankind and should never be forgotten..
Today slavery thrives in many countries of the Middle East, East Africa and Southeast Asia.. Human trafficking and slavery are crimes against humanity and the United Nations must exercise greater resolve in condemning such crimes.. Lip service is totally inadequate and will not do.. Today several million people cannot celebrate “Forever Free” as they are captives to the institution of slavery..
Let us not forget North Korea, subjecting its people to inhumane treatment and near starvation, forced labor etc.
The U.N. is too busy promulgating its other myriad of “political” agendas to be bothered with its real job.
With the world so small a place, and for these types of regimes to exist is an indictment of the human race period.
The UN is not one for doing anything about anything except promoting terrorists in my opinion,my God they had Gaddafi in charge of human rights !