Day for the Abolition of Slavery
"Slavery...I didn't know about all these forms that existed. I think it's largely because we aren't expecting it. It is hidden. Generally people would not believe that it is possible under modern conditions. They would say 'No, I think you are making it all up', because it's just too incredible…"
~Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Hull, UK, 1999
On Saturday, December 2, the world observed the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. [Source]
A young boy works in a copper mine outside of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Most people think about slavery as a horrible mistake that is now part of history. What many people don’t realize is that, for many men, women and especially children, slavery remains a horrible reality even today. Due to the fact that most of modern slavery occurs behind closed doors, it is difficult to paint an exact picture that illustrates the severity of the situation.
Slaves are often:
- Forced to work by physical and mental threats
- Owned and overpowered by means of physical or mental abuse (or threats of abuse) by an ‘employer’
- Dehumanized and treated as ‘property’
- Physically constrained with severe restrictions on freedom
Forms of modern slavery:
- Child Labour—Employment of under-age children as determined by law, which is intolerable or harmful to children and denies them their right to fully develop, to play or to go to school
- Bonded Labour—Practice in which employers give high-interest loans to workers whose entire families must work to pay of the debt; often carried on for generations
- Human Trafficking—The movement of people through violence, deception or intimidation for the purpose of forced labour and servitude [Source]
Take Action
An apprentice carpet weaver examines the pattern to be used on a new carpet in Kabul, Afghanistan.
As you dig up warm winter clothing and make the first snow angels this holiday season, think about ways you can make a difference in the lives of people living in slavery today.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
- Get Educated—In order to start taking action, the first step is to educate yourself on the issue.
- Donate Your Time—Help raise awareness by talking to family, friends and community members about international modern slavery and then planning your first steps to end it. Holiday gatherings or family get-togethers are great opportunities for sharing ideas.
- Be Socially Conscious—If you are planning to buy holiday gifts for your loved ones, first research the labour practices of the companies that make the items you buy. Many clothes are manufactured using child labour and other forms of slavery. For a sweatshop-free option, visit www.metowestyle.com
.
Helpful Links
| United Nations (UN) |
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| Free The Children | |
| Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) | |
Office of the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights | |
Free The Children is the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has an established track-record of success, with three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah’s Angel Network. |
