"Slavery was, in a very real sense, the first international human rights issue to come to the fore. It led to the adoption of the first human rights laws and to the creation of the first human rights non-governmental organization. And yet despite the efforts of the international community to combat this abhorrent practice, it is still widely prevalent in all its insidious forms, old and new. The list is painfully long and includes traditional chattel slavery; bonded labour; serfdom; and forced labour, including of children, women and migrants, and often for the purpose of sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and ritualistic and religious reasons....”
To talk about
slavery, we have to know what it means and how this is possible and acceptable
in societies like ours. First, it is necessary to recognize that this was a
problem that has existed since the beginning of the civilization. This was
started during the time of the Egyptians, the Romans, the Spanish that came to
America and all the countries that used labor force to abuse humans. But what
does slavery really means? The dictionary says that: “slavery is the condition of a
slave”, but what is a slave? “It’s a person who is the property of and wholly
subject to another; a bond servant. A person entirely under the domination of
some influence of another person”
Now days, there are many organizations
around the world like Amnesty International, Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), Human Rights Action Center and more that want to ensure the respect
of human rights this includes the elimination
of against slavery, because it attempts against human rights. Some of them say
that slavery is a system where people are treated as a minority. Also it’s
important to consider that throughout in
history, some countries have signed conventions related to slavery and human
rights:
- Slavery Convention (Geneva, September 25, 1926).
- Protocol amending the Slavery Convention (Geneva, October 23, 1953). Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery (1953).
- Forced Labour Convention (1930).
- Abolition of Forced Labour (1957).
- Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (United Nations General Assembly, December 2, 1949)
- Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (United Nations General Assembly, November 15, 2000
The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (article IV) proclaim that “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave
trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” Also in Article 8 it of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights it states that not one can
be forced to work, unless the individual work is part of a punishment for breaking
the law or being in jail. Proclaims against slavery were part of the revolution
of the state in the XIX and XX century in which it becomes law that every men,
women and children are born free and have to live in that way, but this problem
wasn’t eradicate. Indeed, even in this XXI century we are still fighting
against slavery.
Moreover,
one of the biggest problems concerning this social issue is slave trade. These
are people that are used or are forced to work in different ways like
prostitution. Countries like Africa and Haiti are some countries that have had
to face and fight against slavery. According to Hillary Clinton slave trade
rate in the world is over 27 million people.
The state must guarantee these rights; the problem is
that transnational –criminal groups operate as international mafia
trafficking people. These groups become an obstacle for the fulfillment of laws
and conventions that protect individuals from slavery. First of all, we must
understand that the system under which this is handled is
different from ancient societies. Yet, they share the
same sense. Even in this era where millions of people are
in this situation, there are efforts to stop this, one example is the
pursuit of some conventions mention before.
Slavery
in the society implies discriminatory or humiliating treatment against people.
This is reflected in their work, in which they have low respect to the workers
or are not paying what they have even in how
people treat this employs , which is fully discussed as a problem that
has created a negative impact in society. Unfortunately, there is not a voice
of protest in these victims because sometimes they need the
money even in this cases appear the Traficant’s that transmit fear to the individuals
and use that need in their favor, not always they force the person to work but
the need of this person force them to do it.
We could eradicate
slavery. The laws are in place. The multi-nationals, the world trade
organizations, the United Nations, they could end slavery, but they're not
going to do it until and unless we demand it.
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