Her life today looks very different from the years abroad, a reminder of the . Healing begins anew with the help of IOM and partners.
Slavery and Human Trafficking
The transatlantic enslavement of Africans stands among humanity’s gravest injustices. Millions were torn from their homes, stripped of dignity, and forced into generations of exploitation. The racist ideologies behind this crime became embedded in institutions, shaping inequalities that persist today. This year’s International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (25 March) theme, Justice in Action, urges confronting this history, protecting Afro‑descendant rights, expanding opportunities, and supporting repair and inclusion. Watch the meeting on .
An estimated , including 28 million in forced labour and 22 million in forced marriage, with children disproportionately affected. Despite 181 of 187 ILO members ratifying the and adopting a strengthening , global efforts to eliminate forced labour continue.
Modern slavery hides in plain sight, tightening its grip across the globe. The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (2 December) reminds us that slavery is not a relic of the past. While more than 15 million people were once seized, shackled and sold during the transatlantic slave trade, today 50 million people are trapped in forced labour or forced marriage, 10 million more than in 2016. Women and children remain most at risk from this scourge. Modern slavery exists in nearly every country; over half of all forced labour and one in four forced marriages occur in high-income nations.
On the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, an uprising in Saint Domingue (now Haiti) marked a pivotal moment in the fight against the transatlantic slave trade. To honor this event, the is observed annually on August 23. This day was first commemorated in Haiti (1998) and on Gorée Island, Senegal (1999). It aims to keep the memory of the slave trade alive, encouraging reflection on its historical causes, methods, and consequences while fostering dialogue among Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
exposes how traffickers exploit migrants and urges all people on the move to report abuse, affirming their rights regardless of immigration status.
Through powerful survivor testimonies and public art, IOM Moldova brings visibility to trafficking victims and strengthens national response efforts.
Human trafficking continues to be a global threat driven by organized crime. More and more victims are being trafficked every year, across greater distances, with greater violence, for longer periods of time and for greater profit. Despite some progress, criminal justice responses fall short in tackling this rapidly evolving crime. for the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (30 July) highlights the vital role of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in dismantling organized trafficking networks, while ensuring a victim-centred approach.
A new reveals significant differences in how countries criminalize migrant smuggling, despite global efforts to tackle this organized crime.
Reparations for the crimes of the transatlantic slave trade “can’t be quantified” given the vast historical sweep of human history, according to the first Black African to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, Wole Soyinka.
The longtime Nigerian democracy activist was at UN Headquarters in New York to take part in commemorations for the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery, telling the General Assembly that it remains crucial to confront centuries of wrongdoing.
Ana Carmo sat down with him in our UN News studio following the event and asked him to outline to the international community.
Gorée Island, serves as a solemn reminder of the transatlantic slave trade, where heritage preservation and daily life coexist, highlighting its significance in preserving the painful history for future generations, with the standing as a powerful testament to the past.
Recognizing the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade is crucial for confronting our history, repairing current injustices, and creating a future that respects dignity and fairness for everyone. It is essential to establish reparative justice measures that confront this past and its ongoing effects recalls the UN Secretary-General for the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (25 March). Today, the General Assembly commemorates the Day with Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature Wole Soyinka as keynote speaker. Watch live on
On the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, we remember that 50 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and forced marriage. These abuses violate human rights and hinder development. The recently adopted Pact for the Future aims to eradicate forced labor, modern slavery, and child labor. To turn this vision into action, governments must strengthen law enforcement and support victims, while businesses should ensure ethical supply chains and fair labor practices. Together, we can combat and abolish modern slavery in all its forms.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, around 27 million Africans were forcefully taken from their homes and shipped across the Atlantic. Only 7.4 million reached their destination, where they faced exploitation and abuse. The impact of the slave trade persists, perpetuating racism and inequality. established 23 August as the to bring attention to the history of enslavement. , let's pay tribute to the victims and freedom fighters by renewing our commitment to eradicating racism and discrimination.
Amid the arid landscapes of Zinder, a migration-prone area in central-eastern Niger, 11-year-old Zara's journey back home sheds light on the battle against child trafficking. Zara was sent to Algeria by her mother to find work but was intercepted during the journey. According to the International Organization for Migration (), more than half of the child victims the involvement of friends and family in their recruitment into trafficking, especially where extreme poverty is common. The Centre for Victims of Trafficking, managed by the National Agency for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Illicit Migration with support from IOM, has become a sanctuary for survivors like Zara.