Project A23:: Special Letter Received on August 21, 2008 from UNESCO (Paris) International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, 23 August Message from UNESCO Director-General Freedom from slavery and servitude is a fundamental human right recognized in Article 4 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, whose 60th anniversary we celebrate this year. On this tenth International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, let us therefore remember the millions of men, women and children who were subjected to this most invidious denial of human rights, and those who fought tirelessly to end that tyranny. This year’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition also coincides with another important commemoration: the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade by the United States of America in 1808. Although this historic piece of legislation and similar abolition acts proclaimed in the early nineteenth century did not end the institution of slavery, they greatly contributed to dismantling the most long-lasting and widespread system of domination and oppression in human history. Unfortunately, such bold attempts to affirm fundamental human rights for all peoples were followed by a silence that prevented post-slavery generations from understanding not only the unconscionable suffering of millions of victims but also the profound global economic, social and cultural transformations provoked by the slave trade. Indeed, it was only in 2001 that the international community formally recognized this unprecedented tragedy as a crime against humanity, through the Declaration of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa. Since 1994, UNESCO’s Slave Route Project has sought to address both the racial prejudices that attempt to justify slavery and the socio-cultural forces that have conspired to conceal its scale and impact. Through this ambitious project, UNESCO is playing a critical role in creating greater understanding of the slave trade and its consequences for modern societies, in order to contribute to the establishment of a culture of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and respect for human rights at the heart of the Organization’s mandate. In all of UNESCO's fields of competence – education, the natural and human sciences, culture and communication – this is the guiding principle. The Slave Route Project also aims to increase awareness of the African presence around the world and the still-overlooked contribution of the African Diaspora to the building of new worlds. It takes full advantage of contemporary technologies to widely disseminate the results of the considerable research carried out on slavery-related issues worldwide, including the production of an Atlas of the Interaction of African Presence and its Heritage, a multi-layered mapping tool that will take into account the intangible traditions generated over the centuries and manifested in diverse cultural activities such as music, dance, crafts, and festivities that abound in Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. This atlas will also serve to highlight the creative diversity of our multi-layered, multi-cultural, interactive societies, which UNESCO seeks to protect and promote through legal instruments such as the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. In light of the tremendous momentum created by the celebrations of the International Year to Commemorate the Fight against Slavery and its Abolition in 2004, it is my wish that this year’s International Day will offer ever more opportunities to pursue research, reinforce networking among stakeholders and involve increasing numbers of people and institutions in the remembrance of the slave trade. While we should never forget the atrocities committed in the past, we should be equally vigilant in seeking to abolish the contemporary forms of slavery that affect millions of men, women and children around the world. Despite the arsenal of international instruments created to combat the exploitation of human beings, as well as the growing awareness of the forced labour and the sale and prostitution of children, the disturbing truth is that such flagrant violations of human rights continue. They are a scourge undermining the social fabric of many societies, which UNESCO is working with determination to end. I therefore call upon all UNESCO Member States to seize the opportunity provided by this International Day to make a common appeal for universal remembrance of the tragic events of the past and to renew their efforts to end all forms of oppression in order to build more tolerant and just societies for the present and future generations. • Source:UNESCO Director General • 21-08-2008 International Day for the Remembrance of The Slave Trade and its Abolition is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the memory of all people. In accordance with the goals of the intercultural project “The Slave Route”, it should offer an opportunity for collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of this tragedy, and for an analysis of the interactions to which it has given rise between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean. The night of August 22-23 1791, in Santo Domingo (today Haiti) and the Dominican Republic saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the Abolition of The Transatlantic Slave Trade. A slave by the name of Toussaint Louverture, about 57 years old, in the French Colony of Santo Domingo, organized and brainstormed their revolt and the beginning of the Abolition of The Transatlantic Slave Trade. This is the only slaves victorious REVOLT known in the history of the humanity.

The purpose of this website is to help mobilize awareness of an irreversible process that began the destruction of the transatlantic slavery system. I was researching The Study of Slavery and Freedom in American History, when I was moved by this paragraph on their site "Slavery played a profound role in the history of the United States. The wealth created by the unpaid labor of African Americans helped to underwrite the country's industrial revolution and subsequent economic strength. That wealth created tremendous political power for slave holders and their representatives. African slaves brought with them their many cultures, languages, and values, which helped to shape America and its unique culture. Enduring a brutally oppressive system, African slaves developed a deep commitment to liberty and became a living testament to the powerful ideal of freedom." There are partners of grants seeking to help teachers view history as a continuum—with issues of slavery, freedom, and civil rights as a central theme to understanding who we are as a nation.

Project A23: campaign will run for generations with emphasis on January 1st (United States Date), March 25th (United Nations Date), and August 23rd (UNESCO Date). Join the worldwide mission by wearing the Project A23 global band on each of these dates, and take part in the making of an international awareness campaign for global dates. We commemorate the millions of lives lost, we remember their legacy and we celebrate the resistance, rebellion and the revolution of the beginning of the ended of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Wearing the global band on these dates will give all people the opportunity to make a visible statement and display  their commitment. Global Slavery Remembrance Day mission is to assist UNESCO with their goals of bringing worldwide recognition to August 23, 1791 Revolt of The Slave Trade and its Abolition, and the United Nations (UN) goals to bring worldwide recognition of the March 25th Annual International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and The Transatlantic Slave Trade. On December 17, 2007, the General Assembly unanimously decided to establish March 25th as the Annual International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. March 25th, 2008 for the first time the UN commemorated the day with a solemn observance. Global Slavery Remembrance Day provides a platform for each of their member states to record activities involving their entire nation worldwide. Sincerely.
Venita, In a matter of minutes, 7 days ago on August 23, 2008, we reopened the doors to a historical event of all times, slavery. A style of labor used to increase production in the world, even as early as, the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. Slavery declined at the end of the Roman Empire, by the 8th and 10th centuries, there was an increase in Germany. The Europeans and the Portuguese obtained their negro slaves as ransom for Moorish prisoners of war. America (The New World) needed cheap labor for their new world and West African men, women and children became the means to developing this new world. The Americans in the16th century tried enslaving Indians, however, resistance from the Indians and some churchmen brought about the legal abolition of Indian slavery. Although, the British became leaders in African slave trading in 1564, the movement on August 22-23, 1791, on the islands of Saint Domingue (today known as Haiti) paved the way for the uprising of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. It sent forth a message in America, on January 1, 1808 the United States legally abolished the importation of slaves. For this, we give great thanks to the United States of America but our mission is not over.

U.S. Commission for UNESCO