Emancipation Day

About Emancipation Day

How long until Emancipation Day?
Emancipation Day .		Add to calendar
Dates of Emancipation Day
2026 Belize Saturday, August 1stEmancipation Day 2025 Belize Friday, August 1stEmancipation Day 2024 Belize Thursday, August 1stEmancipation Day 2023 Belize Tuesday, August 1stEmancipation Day 2022 Belize Monday, August 1stEmancipation Day
Summary
Marks the end of Slavery across the British Empire on August 1st 1834
Emancipation Day in other countries
Emancipation Day internationally

Emancipation Day in Belize in 2025

On Emancipation day 2020, Minister of Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Patrick Faber ???d that ?l?v?? w?r? m?d? t? ??rt?????t? ?n th? ???l??t?t??n ?f f?r??t ?r?du?? ?u?h ?? m?h?g?n? ?nd l?gw??d. ?h?? ?l?? ?l???d ? r?l? ?n d?f?nd?ng th? ??ttl?m?nt dur?ng th? 1798 ??ttl? ?f ?t. G??rg?’? ???? wh?r? th? ???m?n h?ld ?ff ???n??h ?nv?d?r? fr?m ??????.

?ut th?? w?r? ?l?? ?ub???t t? ?nhum?n? ?nd ?ru?l tr??tm?nt ?nd ?v?n ?ft?r ?l?v?r? w?? ?b?l??h?d, th?? w?r? m?rg?n?l?z?d ?n th? d?v?l??m?nt ?f th? ??untr?.

History of Emancipation Day

The British like other colonial powers had allowed the widespread practice of slavery to take place during the time of expansion to the new world. In 1772, the ruling in the case of Somerset v Stewart determined that slavery was unsupported by the common law in England and Wales. While the ruling was not clear on the situation in other parts of the Empire, this case was seen as a key turning point in the change towards emancipation.

Slavery was finally abolished throughout the British Empire by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which came into effect on August 1st 1834. The territories controlled at that time by the East India Company, Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) and St. Helen's were excluded. Slavery was not abolished in these regions until 1843.

Find out more All events on August 1st 2025