servitude

Servitude is a condition in which an individual is under the control or obligation to provide labor or services to another person or entity. The term covers a range of arrangements, from slavery and debt bondage to certain forms of compulsory labor, where freedom of movement and choice of work is restricted.

Historically, servitude has taken many forms depending on time and place. Slavery refers to ownership of a person as property. Serfdom tied peasants to land and lords. Indentured servitude and debt bondage involved long-term labor commitments in exchange for passage or debt relief. Distinctions among these arrangements can blur, especially where coercion or lack of freedom is involved.

International law and most national laws distinguish between voluntary labor contracts and coercive servitude. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights prohibits slavery and servitude (article 4). The International Labour Organization has conventions on forced labor (No. 29) and the abolition of forced labor (No. 105). Modern norms criminalize trafficking, debt bondage, and other exploitative practices, and require protection for workers.

Contemporary forms of servitude include forced labor, human trafficking for labor or sexual exploitation, domestic servitude with coercive conditions, child labor that denies education and freedom, and peonage linked to debt. Efforts to eradicate servitude focus on law enforcement, labor rights protections, and supply-chain due diligence.

In summary, servitude encompasses historical and current arrangements in which individuals are compelled to provide labor under coercion or unequal power, and it is addressed through human rights and labor-law frameworks.