International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
“Eradicating contemporary forms of slavery such as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, child labor, forced marriages and forced recruitment of children in armed conflict” is the main objective of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. It was created on December 2, 1949 by the General Assembly of the United Nations when it adopted the Convention for the Suppression and Abolition of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. [A/RES/317(IV)
It allows us to take a critical look at the new forms of modern slavery without forgetting certain traditional forms, which are still present. It is also an opportunity to raise the awareness of a large public, including the authorities, and to remind them of how far we have come.
Many organizations are concerned about the situation under these various aspects:
UNESCO has also assumed an important role in breaking “the silence on the slave trade and slavery” with its “Slave Route” project. The organization continues its efforts to, among other things, encourage new research in neglected regions, preserve written archives and the intangible heritage linked to this history and develop new guides.
Let us recall in closing that the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) adopted a corporate stand against human trafficking in 2004.
Recent data reveals that 50 million people are victims of modern slavery, including 28 million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriage. It is estimated that one in eight victims is a child. Women and girls are disproportionately victims of forced labor, accounting for 80% of victims in the sex industry.