On 10 January, the United Nations launches 2004 as the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition.
Millions of women, children and men are enslaved around the world today - no region is free from this abuse. Slavery today takes many forms: Girls as young as five are trafficked into domestic work in West Africa, entire families are forced to work as bonded slaves in South Asia, men are used as forced labour in American agriculture and women are trafficked into Europe's sex industry.
"This UN year provides a valuable opportunity both to commemorate the long struggle for abolition and to recognise that slavery continues to exist
throughout the world. It is vital governments develop and implement laws
against slavery and ensure those who continue to use slaves are prosecuted," Mary Cunneen Director of Anti-Slavery International, the world's oldest international human rights organisation, said.
Slavery is illegal under international law and in most countries, but in many cases laws are not enforced and offenders are not punished. Slaves are forced to work through the use or threat of violence, they are owned or controlled by an 'employer' through mental or physical threat. They are dehumanised, treated as a commodity or bought and sold as property, and they are physically constrained or have restrictions placed on their freedom of movement.
January 2004 also marks Haiti's 200th anniversary. Haiti was the first republic to be founded by freed African slaves. Despite this, slavery continues. Children as young as four are trafficked as domestic workers (restavèks). An estimated one in 10 Haitian children works long hours, with no pay and is at risk of sexual and physical abuse and are deprived of their rights to education, rest and recreation.
ANTI-SLAVERY INTERNATIONAL
Today's fight for tomorrow's freedom
Visit our campaign website http://www.stophumantraffic.org to help us end human
trafficking or visit http://www.antislavery.org to see how else you can help
Beth Herzfeld (b.herzfeld@antislavery.org)
Press Officer
Anti-Slavery International
Thomas Clarkson House
The Stableyard
Broomgrove Road
London SW9 9TL
UK
Please also see:
2004: Slavery Abolition Year
International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php@URL_ID=13974&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Millions of women, children and men are enslaved around the world today - no region is free from this abuse. Slavery today takes many forms: Girls as young as five are trafficked into domestic work in West Africa, entire families are forced to work as bonded slaves in South Asia, men are used as forced labour in American agriculture and women are trafficked into Europe's sex industry.
"This UN year provides a valuable opportunity both to commemorate the long struggle for abolition and to recognise that slavery continues to exist
throughout the world. It is vital governments develop and implement laws
against slavery and ensure those who continue to use slaves are prosecuted," Mary Cunneen Director of Anti-Slavery International, the world's oldest international human rights organisation, said.
Slavery is illegal under international law and in most countries, but in many cases laws are not enforced and offenders are not punished. Slaves are forced to work through the use or threat of violence, they are owned or controlled by an 'employer' through mental or physical threat. They are dehumanised, treated as a commodity or bought and sold as property, and they are physically constrained or have restrictions placed on their freedom of movement.
January 2004 also marks Haiti's 200th anniversary. Haiti was the first republic to be founded by freed African slaves. Despite this, slavery continues. Children as young as four are trafficked as domestic workers (restavèks). An estimated one in 10 Haitian children works long hours, with no pay and is at risk of sexual and physical abuse and are deprived of their rights to education, rest and recreation.
ANTI-SLAVERY INTERNATIONAL
Today's fight for tomorrow's freedom
Visit our campaign website http://www.stophumantraffic.org to help us end human
trafficking or visit http://www.antislavery.org to see how else you can help
Beth Herzfeld (b.herzfeld@antislavery.org)
Press Officer
Anti-Slavery International
Thomas Clarkson House
The Stableyard
Broomgrove Road
London SW9 9TL
UK
Please also see:
2004: Slavery Abolition Year
International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php@URL_ID=13974&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html