2026 Remembrance Programme
¡°Justice in Action: Confronting History, Advancing Dignity, Empowering Futures.¡±
The transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans was one of the gravest crimes in history. Millions of men, women and children were violently taken from their homes, denied their humanity and forced to endure generations of exploitation. The racist ideologies that justified this crime became embedded in institutions and societies, shaping inequalities that continue today.
This year¡¯s theme, Justice in Action, calls on the global community to confront this history with honesty and to acknowledge its enduring impact. Advancing dignity requires transforming the systems that perpetuate discrimination and ensuring that the rights of Afro?descendant communities are protected and upheld.
Empowering futures requires expanding opportunities, strengthening participation, and supporting measures that promote repair, inclusion and justice. By translating remembrance into action, we can help build a world where every person can live in equality, dignity and hope.
Calendar of Events
General Assembly Observance of the 2026 International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
10:00 a.m. EST, General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters
On Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, the General Assembly will convene its annual plenary meeting to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Speakers will include the President of the 80th Session of the General Assembly, Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock; the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ant¨®nio Guterres; a keynote speaker and a youth speaker; regional groups and representatives of Member States and.
Watch the General Assembly meeting live at