The celebration of 23 August, International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, has particular symbolic value this year, 2004, which was proclaimed International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition by the United Nations General Assembly. The purpose of the Year is to remind humanity of the fight of the slaves for freedom, justice and dignity, a fight that led to the independence of Haiti and the proclamation in 1804 of the first Black republic.

The date of 23 August refers to the insurrection that started in the night of 22 to 23 August 1791 on the island of Saint-Domingue (today divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic), led by Toussaint Louverture, the first Black major general. The insurrection was to lead to the first decisive victory for slaves against their oppressors in the history of humanity.

On 23 August 2004, we are thus commemorating two key events: the revolt of 1791 and its culmination in 1804.

The Day gives us the opportunity to reflect together on the historical causes, processes and consequences of the unprecedented tragedy that was slavery and the slave trade, a tragedy that was concealed for many years and is yet to be fully recognized.

It also provides us with an opportunity to understand more clearly the interactions that the slave trade generated throughout the world between the different peoples involved. It not only disrupted the lives of millions of human beings uprooted from their land and deported in the most inhuman conditions, but it brought about cultural exchanges which deeply and lastingly influenced morals and beliefs, social relations and knowledge on several continents.

By publicizing and acknowledging the major cultural impact made by the victims of this crime against humanity on the civilizations of the world, we seek to contribute to the deconstruction of racial prejudices and combat ideologies of hatred and intolerance. We also aim to promote a dialogue of cultures respectful of diversity and based on the values of tolerance, equality and sharing.

Beyond these retrospective dimensions, the Day aims to sensitize and alert public opinion to the new trade in human beings, for slavery, although abolished and penalized in international instruments, is still practised in new forms, that today affect millions of men, women and children across the world.

I therefore call on the whole population in all Member States, in particular intellectuals, political, religious and community leaders, educators, artists and young people, to mark the Day with acts of meditation, awareness-raising and exchange about the tragedy of slavery that we cannot forget, and that we can never again tolerate.

Together, through our actions and our commitment on all these fronts, we will able to eradicate the vestiges of slavery and combat new forms of servitude that represent intolerable violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.