International Year for the Commemoration of the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition

The United Nations has declared 2004 the International Year for the Commemoration of the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition. The aims of the year include helping "humanity accomplish its duty of remembrance and fight all forms of slavery and racism in the world". 2004 is also the bicentenary of the first independent black state and a a symbol of the slaves' resistance, Haiti.
• Read UN press release
• Read BBC News Report (an easier read).