DEVELOPING RECOGNITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS The abolition of slavery ABOLITION of slavery… ‘Getting rid of’ 2 STEPS End the slave trade (no more buying & selling slaves) Set the existing slaves free Major events: BRITAIN: The Somersett Case (1772) The Slave Trade Act 1807 The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 AMERICA: Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation 1863 Slavery abolished in all states by the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Amistad case
DEVELOPING RECOGNITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS The abolition of slavery Slavery is against Article 4 of the UDHR and Article 8 of the ICCPR There have also been a lot of Conventions and additional Protocols (that many countries have not signed). e.g. Two Slavery Conventions (1926 and 1953) UN Trafficking Protocol (AKA The Palermo Protocol) 2000 The ILO’s Forced Labour Convention 1930 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention 1999 CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children 2000 Domestic Work Convention 2011
DEVELOPING RECOGNITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS The abolition of slavery Slavery is against Article 4 of the UDHR and Article 8 of the ICCPR But it’s not over… The 2013 Global Slavery Index has estimated there are 29.8 million slaves today Over 14 million just in India alone… But there’s a difference… Now it involves all races, all ages, different types of work In Australia: R v Wei Tang (2008), R v Dobie (2009), R v Chee Mei Wong (2013) have shown that slavery exists in Australia
DEVELOPING RECOGNITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS The abolition of slavery NGOs ‘Anti Slavery International’ (and Australia), the ‘Global Freedom Network’ and the ‘Walk Free Foundation’ are continuing to fight what’s known as ‘modern’ slavery. Andrew Forrest's dream to stop all slavery, SMH (2014)
Questions Reference the articles from international law that prohibit slavery and make reference to two other instruments of international law that prohibit slavery. How is slavery still present in today’s world?