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SLAVERY:
WHERE IT IS PRACTICED TODAY
Sponsored link.
Where slavery is still practiced:
Anti-Slavery International was founded in 1839, as the world's first
and international human rights organization. They reported in mid-2003 that
today: "Millions of men, women and children around the world are forced to
lead lives as slaves. Although this exploitation is often not called slavery,
the conditions are the same. People are sold like objects, forced to work for
little or no pay and are at the mercy of their 'employers'....Women from eastern
Europe are bonded into prostitution, children are trafficked between West
African countries and men are forced to work as slaves on Brazilian agricultural
estates. Contemporary slavery takes various forms and affects people of all
ages, sex and race." 1
Laws against slavery and near-slavery:
Slavery is banned by laws and the constitutions of most countries in the
world -- even in those countries where it is still practiced. It is also
prohibited by the:
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UN Slavery Convention in 1926 2 |
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International Labour Organization's Forced Labour Convention of
1930 |
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights in
1948 |
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Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25
September 1926 in 1953 3 |
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UN Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave
Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery in 1956. 4 |
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International Labour Organisation's Abolition of Forced Labour
Convention in 1959. |
The U.S. federal "Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of
2000" was enacted to
"combat trafficking in persons, especially into the sex trade, slavery and
involuntary servitude..." 5 The first charge of using
forced labor under the law were brought in mid-2002. 6 Eleven
workers from Mexico were allegedly brought to northern New York State and kept
in near-slavery.
Sponsored link:
Current incidences of large-scale slavery and near-slavery:
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Sudan: There is considerable evidence that slavery is still practiced
in a large scale in Sudan -- an estimated
14,000 people have been abducted since 1983. However, the existence of
slavery is denied by
the Sudanese government. Some western religious groups have attempted
to buy freedom for individual slaves. Unfortunately, this has become
counterproductive. It increases the profitability of enslavement as a
commercial
enterprise, and results in more slaves being created.
More details.
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Niger: Anti-Slavery International reported in mid-2003 that
slavery is rampant in Niger, mostly in the southwestern Tillaberry
region of that country. 7 This occurs even though slavery is prohibited
by the constitution and is being fought by stringent new laws. About 7% of the
population -- some 870,000 individuals are condemned to life-long
servitude. Many are born into slavery and will remain slaves all of
their life.
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Programs of near-slavery: Anti-Slavery
International (ASI) presented a paper to the United
Nations Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery which met
in Geneva, Switzerland, 2003-JUN-16 to 20. 8 All of
the major offending countries cited have large Hindu or Muslim
majorities. ASI discussed the situation in Sudan and Niger as well as
describing situations of near-slavery such as:
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United Arab Emirates -- Child trafficking:
Although it is illegal to employ a child under the age of 15, hundreds
of boys between four and ten are trafficked from South Asia to the UAE
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India, Nepal and Pakistan -- Millions of men,
women and children are used as forced and bonded labor in these
countries. Most are dalit or from a low caste, or are from
indigenous or minority groups. Laws against the caste system and
against bonded labor exist but are not enforced.
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Indonesia -- Forced labor and exploitation of
migrant workers. "Poverty and lack of opportunity in Indonesia have
increased the number of Indonesians seeking work in Asia. Indonesia's
lack of protection and the Government's existing system for women
migrant domestics exposes them to trafficking and slavery." 8
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US Department of State report for 2005:
 The
U.S. Department of State issues a Trafficking in Persons Report on
a yearly basis. Their web site
states:
Trafficking in persons is a modern-day form of slavery,
involving victims who are typically forced, defrauded or coerced into sexual
or labor exploitation. It is among the fastest growing criminal activities,
occurring both worldwide and in individual countries. Annually, at least
600,000 - 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked across
borders worldwide, including 14,500 - 17,500 persons into the United States.
People are snared into trafficking by various means. For example, physical
force is used or false promises are made regarding a legitimate job or
marriage in a foreign country to entrap victims into prostitution,
pornography and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation or
slavery-like labor conditions in factories and fields. Victims suffer
physical and emotional abuse, rape, threats against self and family,
passport theft, and physical restraint. 9
The State Department rates most of the countries in the world on a three tier format. They rated 14 countries at Tier 3. These are
countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards of
the U.S. federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and are not making significant efforts to do so: Bolivia,
Burma, Cambodia, Cuba, Ecuador, Jamaica, Kuwait, North Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Togo, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
Non-profit groups working to combat slavery:
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Anti-Slavery International,
Thomas Clarkson House, The Stableyard,
Broomgrove Road, London, UK, SW9 9TL. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7501 8920.
Fax: +44 (0)20 7738 4110. E-mail:
[email protected]
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Free the Slaves, 1326 14th St. NW, Washington,
DC 20005, USA. Telephone: 1.866.324.FREE. and 202.588.1865. Fax:
202.588.1514. E-mail:
[email protected]
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Site navigation:
References used:The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
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"What is modern slavery?," Anti-Slavery International, at:
http://www.antislavery.org/
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The text of the "Slavery Convention" is at:
http://www.hri.ca/
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The text of the "Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at
Geneva on 25 September 1926," is at:
http://www.hri.ca/
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The text of the "Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of
Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to
Slavery" is at:
http://www.hri.ca/
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Steven Greenhouse, "Migrant-Camp Operators Face Forced Labor
Charges," New York Times, 2002-JUN-21, at:
http://www.freetheslaves.net/
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"Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000" at:
http://www.freetheslaves.net/
You need software to read this file. It can be obtained free from:
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"Slavery flourishing despite strong laws," The Toronto Star, "Rights
Watch" section, 2003-JUN-22, Page F4.
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"United Nations meeting reveals slavery's global scale,"
Anti-Slavery International, at:
http://www.antislavery.org/
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"Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Action to End
Modern-Day Slavery," U.S. Department of State, at:
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/
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"Trafficking in Persons Report," Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State, 2005-JUN-03, at:
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2005/46606.htm
Copyright © 1999 to 2005 by
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2005-JUN-05
Author: B.A. Robinson
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