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Forum:
Human Rights Commission I
Issue:
Eliminating slavery in all its forms
Student Officer: Noor Salama
Position:
Deputy President
Introduction
The precursor of the United Nations, the League of Nations, was effective in its devotion
to eliminate slavery in all its forms. The international community reached a firm consensus
regarding the definition of slavery in 25 September 1926, during the League of Nations Slavery
Convention. According to League of Nations, slavery is defined as: “the status or condition of a
person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised”.
However, with the ultimate failure of the League of Nations, a newly formed definition of slavery
was established by the United Nations. It’s further defined as “all acts involved in the capture,
acquisition or disposal of a person with intent to reduce him to slavery; all acts involved in the
acquisition of a slave with a view to selling or exchanging him; all acts of disposal by sale or
exchange of a slave acquired with a view to being sold or exchanged, and, in general, every act
of trade or transport in slaves.”
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) around 21 million men, women
and children around the world are in a form of slavery. The practice of contemporary slavery is
prevalent in our communities, affecting unfortunate people from all genders, ages and races.
Slavery is interpreted differently around the world thus leading to its lack of acknowledgment
and recognition. Contemporary slavery appears in various forms; human trafficking, prostitution,
child labor, domestic work, imposed agricultural labor, child marriage.
Beside international agreements conducted regarding the issue of forced labor, the ILO
does not consider all forms of forced labor as a crime. ILO exceptionally allows forced labour
with certain regulations. The Slavery Convention of 1926 allowed forced labour, however,
indicated that it must be supervised and regulated by the competent authorities involved and
that “as long as forced or compulsory labour exists . . [it] shall invariably be of an exceptional
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character, shall always receive adequate remuneration, and shall not involve the removal of the
labourers from their usual place of residence.”
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recognizes emancipation of slavery as an
obligation to all communities as a whole. Slavery has been proclaimed as a crime against
humanity, in which liberation is a fundamental human right to all civilians disregarding their race,
ethnicity,religion, gender, social status, sexual orientation.
Definition of Key Terms
Convention
A convention is meeting held by prominent individuals representing a legislature to
discuss a global or national predicament related to either politics, social or economic
issues.
League of Nations
The League of Nations was established after the First World War on 10 January 1920 to
prevent future international conflicts. Its primary goals was to establish peace amongst
all nations through collective security and disarmament if necessary. It was the first
international organisation involving powerful countries willing to prevent future disputes.
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential executive order issued on January
1, 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. The legal liberation order of 3 million enslaved African
Americans in Southern region.
Slavery
According to the United Nations, Slavery is defined as “all acts involved in the capture,
acquisition or disposal of a person with intent to reduce him to slavery; all acts involved
in the acquisition of a slave with a view to selling or exchanging him; all acts of disposal
by sale or exchange of a slave acquired with a view to being sold or exchanged, and, in
general, every act of trade or transport in slaves”
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Contemporary Slavery
Contemporary slavery are all acts of servitude during the modern day institutions that
base their businesses on oppressive forced labor which exists in the present day.
Studies have estimated that approximately around 21 million to 46 million experience
either forms of contemporary slavery, yet seek liberation.
Background Information
Despite the numerous yet insufficient efforts manifested into abolishing contemporary
slavery, it has yet not been utterly eradicated. According to ILO’s statistical information, 21
million women, men and children are enslaved, living in unbearable conditions, enduring cruel
mistreatment and are deprived from their basic, fundamental human rights. Mr. Annan said
“slavery and human trafficking, and such related practices as debt bondage, forced prostitution
and forced labour, violate the “most fundamental human rights.”
The United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) released these statistical
values to the public on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery as a form of raising
pressing issues to the public eye. The ILO estimates that forced labour gains profits of $150
billion annually, in which two thirds of the profit are results of exploitation predominantly
involving women and children. ILO established new standards against forced labor that provide
effective methods to eliminate slavery in all its forms, these new legally binding standards
mandate international acknowledgment and require all nations to abide by the laws regardless.
On the International Day for the Abolishment of Slavery, on December 2nd 2014, UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressed a speech in which he recited “banish the barbaric
practices” of contemporary slavery; human trafficking, forced labor, recruitment of child soldiers
for civil conflict purposes, sexual and criminal exploitation. He further emphasized the desperate
and immediate international assistance needed for the implementation of effective the actions
against the abolishment of contemporary slavery in all its forms. “We must fight the oppression
of workers who seek to join trade unions. And we must ensure stronger law enforcement to stop
human trafficking once and for all. Each day, women are trafficked, sold and locked in brothels.
Every day, young girls are forcibly married, sexually abused or exploited as domestic workers,”
Mr. Ban explained.
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Secretary General Ban Ki-moon discussed recent events that were dedicated to raise
awareness about contemporary slavery, Mr. Ban emphasized the need for “clear-sighted
strategies, strong national legislation and a commitment to coordinate the fight against this
crime.”
The UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery are focusing on
rehabilitation projects intending to strengthen the actions taken to eliminate slavery, in particular
to support former child soldiers that were under the control of aggressive military groups during
civil disputes.
Types of Contemporary Slavery
Involuntary Domestic Servitude
Victims are forced to perform onerous domestic chores in private households under
distressing conditions; minimal sleeping hours, few rest hours and aren’t provided with
adequate care.
Human trafficking
The trade of persons by illegal transportation across international borders by the use of
threat, violence and power to exploit persons for means of sexual exploitation, forced
labor, forced marriage etc. According to a report by the UNODC, internationally, the
most common destinations for victims of human trafficking are Thailand, South Korea,
Japan, Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the United States.
Sexual Exploitation
Unwilling
persons
forced
to
engage
in
sexual
activity
in
exchange
for
accommodation/shelter, drugs, food, money and other basic welfare necessities. While
studies have proven that sexual exploitation disportionately affects women and children,
men are capable of being victims as well.
Criminal Exploitation
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Unwilling persons being imposed to pursue with criminal acts such as theft, robbery and
murder to fulfil demands. Motives of the abuser particularly revolves around illegally
acquiring unearned money.
Child labor
The definition of the term child labor is extremely specific. Activities involving children
voluntarily participating to gain advantage is not considered child labor in any means or
form. It is classified as a child labor when a child is unwillingly imposed to complete
onerous tasks beyond their physical and mental capability, when it hinders their social
and mental development. If it’s physically harmful; the littlest risk potential involved
stands as child labor classification.
Child marriage
A formal marriage involving underage persons. Age limit for legal marriage
internationally differs, however, under age of 18 is considerably the age in which it's
classified as child marriage. Child marriage includes both boys and girls, although recent
studies have proven that it disproportionately affects women.
Child marriage is
prevalent in all countries, it has no geographical bounds. According to UNICEF, more
than 700 million women alive today were married as children. More than 1 in 3 – or
some 250 million – were married before 15.
Major Countries and Organizations Involved
Human Rights Watch
HRW is a nonprofit, nongovernmental human rights organisation established in 1978.
HRW is based internationally, its staff members are human rights activists with professional
experience. Diverse occupations, qualifications and nationalities. HRW is known for its
credibility, reliability and effective methods it uses to deliver imperative information across to
the public, through media coverage, articles etc. Annually, HRW conducts extensive research
regarding human rights violations in countries around the world, these articles generally
include reports and briefings covering contemporary slavery and the importance of its
acknowledgment. Human Rights Watch interacts ( however not associated) with the United
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Nations, governments, regional and international groups similarity to the African and
European Union.
Agroforestry, Basic health and Cooperative Nepal (ABC Nepal)
ABC Nepal is a non profit non governmental organisation based in Nepal dedicated to
resolving the issue of human trafficking in Nepal and the focus of women’s rights. It is the first
non governmental organisation established in Nepal since its creation in 1987. ABC Nepal is
an organisation led by Ms Durga Ghimire, one of the prominent socialites in Nepal working in
the field of women's rights.
Anti-Slavery International
Anti-Slavery International is a non- profit, international non-governmental organization
established in 1839, in the United Kingdom. It is the one of the oldest charitable human rights
organisation as well as the only charity organisation in the UK that is solely dedicated to fighting
slavery.
China
In china, from an estimated 30 million people enslaved worldwide, 2.9 million are trapped in
China. The estimated 2.9 million people in modern slavery in China "includes the forced labour
of men, women and children in many parts of the economy, including domestic servitude and
forced begging, the sexual exploitation of women and children, and forced marriage",
India
The UN estimates almost 30 million people are enslaved for means of forced labor. The
statistics globally rank India fourth in terms of percentage of people enslaved.A global survey
conducted by an anti-slavery organisation based in Australia, Walk Free Foundation, working to
eradicate contemporary slavery, revealed statistics of the enslavement percentage in India. Out
of the total population of around 1.2 billion, around 14.7 million people in India are living in
modern slavery conditions.
Pakistan
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According to the UN, an estimated 30 million people worldwide are living in modern-day slavery,
of which 2.1 million are in Pakistan. The Slavery Global Index estimates that 2,134,900 number
of people living in slavery which 1.13% of the population. According to the poverty rate in
Pakistan, its current economical situation postulates that 62.47/100 are vulnerable to modern
slavery.
Timeline of Events
Date Occurrence
Event
July 2, 1890
The Brussels Act is signed
September 25, 1926
The Slavery Convention of the League of
Nations is created
September 29, 1930
Forced Labour Convention (ILO C29)
September 7, 1956
The Supplementary Convention on the
Abolition of Slavery is signed
June 25, 1957
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
(C105)
June 18, 1998
ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles
and Rights at Work (FPRW)
June 17, 1999
Prohibition and Immediate Action for the
Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child
Labour
June 11, 2014
Protocol on the Forced Labour Convention
March 26, 2015
Modern Slavery Act (UK)
UN Involvement, Relevant Resolutions, Treaties and Events
Date
Reference
Title
17 Dec.1991
A/RES/46/122
United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary
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Forms of Slavery
31 Oct. 2014
A/RES/11/3
Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children
19 Oct. 1983
A/RES/71/170
Commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the
transatlantic slave trade
18 Dec. 2009
A/RES/64/146
Rights of the child
16 Nov. 2009
A/RES/64/15
Permanent memorial to and remembrance of the victims
of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Previous Attempts to Resolve the Issue
The Constitution
The Three-Fifths Compromise provided a formula which aids in the calculation of a
state’s population. Three-fifths of “all other persons” (slaves for example) would be
motivations behind the representation and tax assessment. The Constitution likewise
incorporated an arrangement to boycott the importation of slaves beginning in 1808, and an
outlaw slave condition requiring slaves who have escaped to come back to their proprietors.
Compromise of 1850
Important to figure out if subjection would be permitted in states made by the region
procured from Mexico in the Mexican-American War. California was conceded as a free state,
while the Territory of New Mexico (counting present-day Arizona and a portion of Nevada)
permitted subjection. The Compromise likewise incorporated a measure banning the slave
exchange (however not servitude itself) inside the District of Columbia, and additionally
another and more intense Fugitive Slave Law.
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
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Made the domains of Kansas and Nebraska and required that inhabitants of those regions
would have to vote to figure out if the two regions would permit subjection. This brought about
brutality between pro-servitude and abolitionist advocates who moved to the regions.
Fugitive Slave Act (1793)
Required that got-away slaves found in free states be caught and come back to their lords.
The demonstration likewise denied liberated slaves the privilege to a jury trial and other
sacred rights.
“Gag rule” in Congress (1831-1844)
The submission of petitions from abolitionists regarding slavery to the Congress,
proslavery representatives outvoted it in which the discussion was no longer permissible.
Possible Solutions
Fighting cutting edge subjugation requires handling the more extensive environment by
receiving and reinforcing child protection frameworks, fit for decreasing danger factors and
guaranteeing the early recognizable proof of kid casualties. In arrangements towards the
selection of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) clear targets must be set to
annihilate all types of slavery-like activities, including trafficking, child labour and sexual abuse,
the specialists accentuated.
Despite the fact that public awareness is undermined as a strategy to combat global issues, it is
certainly an effective tool. Public awareness would educate individuals on the various forms of
contemporary slavery rather than having them turn a blind eye to such global oppression as well
as encouraging individuals to protest for victims of slavery by highlighting the suffrage of forced
labourers.
The reinforcement of child protection is crucial for the annihilation of child labor. Extensive
security boarding schools, increasing surveillance at public areas in which children most likely
visit. The implementation of programmes to tackle ways in which trafficking can be avoided,
these programmes would reduce the likelihood of men, women and children being targeted. The
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creation of hotlines for situation of emergency to assist persons experiencing the
aforementioned enslavement forms.
Bibliography
"What Is Modern Slavery?" U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 24
Oct. 2016.
"News, Sport and Opinion from the Guardian's US Edition | The Guardian." The Guardian.
Guardian News and Media, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
"Slavery Today | Different Types of Human Trafficking - End Slavery Now." Slavery Today |
Types of Human Trafficking. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
"Modern Slavery." Http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/slavery/modern/modern_1.shtml. BBC, n.d.
Web.
"Slavery Today « Free the Slaves." Slavery Today Www.freetheslaves.net/aboutslavery/slavery-today/, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
"SLAVERY TYPES AND WHO IS AFFECTED." Types of Slavery, Industries Where It Exists
and Who Is Affected – Modern Slavery. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
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