EU Statement – UN General Assembly: International Day for Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

EU Statement - UN General Assembly: International Day for Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

25 March 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States by Ambassador Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, at the UN General Assembly commemorative plenary on the International Day for Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

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Madam President of the General Assembly, Mr Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Andorra, and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The transatlantic slave trade remains an unparalleled tragedy, which lasted for over three centuries and involved unspeakable atrocities, affecting millions of Africans.

Twenty years ago, the General Assembly acknowledged the unprecedented scale and duration of the atrocities of slavery and the slave trade, condemning with the strongest words these human rights violations. The EU and its Member States are actively engaged across all relevant fora to make progress on this issue and we demonstrated our commitment through concrete domestic and international action.

While the wrongs of the past cannot be undone, we must learn from them and strive to redress their enduring consequences in full adherence to international law, by dismantling barriers and addressing the disparities that still prevent the full and equal participation of descendants descent in all aspects of society.

We must continue to support efforts to shed light on light on the history of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, as well as their causes, devastating consequences and long-lasting impacts. We also acknowledge that more must be done to take into account the consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.

This demands collective effort, rooted in a shared commitment to remembrance and the need to continue combating slavery in its contemporary forms. The EU and its Member States remain open to every meaningful opportunity that fosters consensus and unity on this important matter.

Still today, despite universal prohibition, slavery and slavery-like practices - in the form of trafficking of persons for criminal or political purposes and other forms of modern slavery - persist and constitute flagrant, daily violations of human rights.

The EU is firmly committed to eradicating these abhorrent practices, and actively works to eradicate slavery in all its forms, through both legal frameworks and policies. The EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights enshrines the right to human dignity with the prohibition of slavery, forced labour and trafficking in human beings.

The EU Regulation on Prohibiting Products Made with Forced Labour reinforces this stance, enabling us to remove such goods from the Single Market, whether produced domestically or imported. Additionally, we actively support the International Labour Organization's fundamental Conventions on forced labour, which are integrated into many of our trade instruments.

In parallel, the EU supports the international fight against racism and racial discrimination in all their forms, and is committed to the full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. We will continue implementing global initiatives such as the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which marks its 25th anniversary this year.

And just last week, like every year, the EU convened an Anti-Racism Conference that brought together policy makers, civil society and independent equality bodies to exchange best practice.

The European Union and its Member States reaffirm their commitment to eliminating all forms of modern slavery, and building a just and equal society for all, where dignity and human rights are respected and protected.

Thank you.

1. ^North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.