iciHaiti – UNESCO Network : Bois Caïman, universal symbol of freedom

The Bois Caïman ceremony will forever remain a universal symbol of freedom and emancipation for all peoples who suffered slavery. Having joined the “UNESCO Network of Sites of History and Remembrance linked to Slavery and the Slave Trade”, Bois Caïman embodies collective memory and the struggle for justice and human rights.

The network currently includes 28 sites in 13 member states (Benin, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the United States, Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, Liberia, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and continues to grow daily. Sites are members of the Network for a minimum of five years.

Bois Caïman, the site of the historic meeting of maroons that sparked Haiti’s struggle for independence, symbolizes resistance and the abolition of slavery. Recognized by UNESCO, it inspired the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade (August 23). Authorities are planning school visits and a National Slavery Museum to honor its legacy.

About the Network :

Created in 2024, the network aims to support the preservation of significant sites for the benefit of local populations, while contributing to global memory and understanding of the history of slavery and the slave trade. A twinning initiative between associated cities will seek to establish new relationships between network locations, with a view to mutual development.

IH/ iciHaiti