Slaveri

Slaveri is the condition in which a person is owned or controlled by another person and compelled to work or perform services, often without regard to their will. It encompasses various forms, including chattel slavery, where people are treated as property; debt bondage, forced labor, child slavery, and forced marriage, as well as trafficking in persons for exploitation.

Historically, slavery appeared in many societies. In the transatlantic slave trade (16th–19th centuries), millions of Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas. Abolition movements in Europe and the Americas led to bans in the 19th century, such as Britain’s Slavery Abolition Act (1833) and the U.S. Thirteenth Amendment. Nonetheless, exploitative practices persisted in new forms and settings.

International law prohibits slavery and related practices. The 1926 Slavery Convention and the 1956 Supplementary Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and ILO conventions address forced labor and trafficking. The Palermo Protocol (2000) complements these efforts. Modern slavery describes practices like forced labor, debt bondage, trafficking, forced or underage marriage, and other coercive exploitations, especially where coercion or deception limits freedom.

Current status and response: Modern slavery affects millions worldwide, across sectors and regions. It persists in formal and informal economies, households, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Efforts include protection and assistance for victims, law enforcement, and preventive measures such as supply-chain due diligence, public awareness, and anti-trafficking programs. Ongoing challenges include poverty, conflict, corruption, gender inequality, and demand for cheap labor.