"Breaking the Silence, Beating the Drum" was the theme for the 2009 commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, 25 March. It was a day not so much to lament the past, but rather to celebrate victory over adversity, and to encourage people to learn from the past and to speak out against injustice. The official website for the Day was http://www.un.org/en/slavery
Modern forms of slavery are described at the UN's "Slavery Today" website http://www.un.org/en/slavery/slavery.shtml
Students from University of Canberra’s International Relations Society read the Secretary-General’s statement, and beat drums at noon for 20 minutes. The drumming attracted many of the students at lunchtime who were keen to find out more about the international Day. Two videos: ‘Breaking the Silence Beating the Drum’ and the ‘Culture Project' were played, and relevant material was distributed. Pre- schoolers from the university infant school also came along and merrily beat their drumming sticks and were amused by the big people making a lot of noise.
On the 26 of March students at the Australian National University along with Amnesty International, also held a drumming event and screened the “Breaking the Silence’ and ‘Culture Project’ videos - many students engaged in conversation about human rights and were keen to become involved in more UNIC activities.
University of Canberra International Relations Society students drumming for justice
Display table with anti-racism material, University of Canberra