Slavery is one of the worst crimes one can commit in the 21st century. It is a myth that slavery is a thing of past. The reality is that over 40 million people are still victims of modern-day slavery as per the estimates of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is a globally observed event which is organised by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) around the world. Here is the history and significance of the observance you should know. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2019: Five Quotes on Slavery on the United Nations Day.

So you would be wondering what modern slavery is? Well, there’s no official term that defines it. However, one can say that modern slavery includes ill practices such as child labour, forced marriage, forced labour, human trafficking, and debt bondage. In simpler terms, it is exploitation of a human being where he/she is denied of their fundamental rights and is made to work against their wishes. Hence, the observance of International Day for the Abolition of Slavery serves a sincere reminder of the ills prevalent in our society and how can we prevent them.

History and Date of International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2019:

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery in a global event which is celebrated every year on December 2. The first such international observance took place in the year 1986. Since then, the UNGA has been in the forefront to promote and raise awareness about the evil practices that still exist in the 21st century.

On this day, December 2, in 1949, the UNGA had adopted the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317-IV).

What is the significance of International Day for the Abolition of Slavery?

It might sound surprising that slavery still exists in this century. However, the estimated figures by ILO are alarming. Not only 40 million people are victims of modern slavery, but there are also over 150 million children who are subjected to child labour, viz. 1 out of every ten children across the world.

The importance of observing the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is not merely of a symbolism. The observance makes us focus on ways in which an individual can do his/her bit to help the social cause. It makes us think of how one can help in reducing the ills of modern-day slavery which prevails in the forms of child labour, forced marriage, forced labour, human trafficking etc.

Several workshops, events, and seminars are organised portraying as to what constitutes modern slavery. They also educate about people’s fundamental rights and terms of fair labour. To eradicate this menace, the ILO recently adopted a new legally binding ‘protocol’ in November 2016 to strengthen their efforts in eradicating this ill of ‘slavery’.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 02, 2019 09:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).