The United Nations passed a resolution declaring 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD).

One objective is to “Promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies.” ACKI looks to plan and support activities that educate the public about those Africans brought to the West during the transatlantic slave trade who were Muslims.

International Day of Remembrance

Activities include the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on 25 March, which recognizes the largest mass involuntary movement of peoples in the history of humanity. ACKI looks to keeping its followers abreast of activities it will hold as the decade progresses.

For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest chapters in human history.
Every year on 25 March, the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade offers the opportunity to honour and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The International Day also aims at raising awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.

2015 Theme: “Women and Slavery”

This year’s theme, “Women and Slavery,” pays tribute to the many enslaved women who endured unbearable hardships, including sexual exploitation, as well as those who fought for freedom from slavery and advocated for its abolition. The theme also celebrates the strength of enslaved women, many of whom succeeded in transmitting their African culture to their descendants despite the many abuses that they had to endure.

“This year’s Day of Remembrance pays particular tribute to the many women who suffered and died during the slave trade. … Women slaves played a key role in maintaining the dignity of their communities. Too often their leadership and brave resistance have been underestimated or forgotten.” -Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
It is estimated that one third of the approximately 15 million people who were deported from Africa through the Transatlantic Slave Trade were women. Enslaved women carried a triple burden. In addition to enduring the harsh conditions of forced labour as a slave, they experienced extreme forms of discrimination and exploitation as a result of their gender and the colour of their skin.

Find more information at http://www.un.org/en/events/africandescentdecade.