Coming from Guyana, a country with its history deeply tied to the transatlantic slave trade, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition always hits close to home for me. It’s not just about looking back; it’s about recognizing how the past still echoes in our world today. 

When I think about ending slavery, I remind myself that it wasn’t just a moral victory. It was a hard-fought battle against powerful interests that profited immensely from human suffering. I see those same kinds of vested interests are still at work today, resisting the changes we desperately need to abolish modern slavery.  

Despite significant progress since 1833, I know that our global economy still relies on exploited labor in ways that are eerily similar to the past.  

But there’s hope. History proves that radical change is possible, even when it seems daunting. Abolition was achieved because brave people dared to challenge entrenched systems, despite the complexity and resistance they faced. The road to freedom was marked by repeated organized uprisings and rebellions by the victims and survivors of slavery. 

I believe we must carry forward that same spirit if we’re serious about ending modern slavery.  

This International Remembrance Day, I’m asking you to stand with me. Your support can help us continue this fight, pushing for the kind of change that history shows us is possible.  

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Krysta Bisnauth Advocacy Manager, Freedom United