New Urgency on International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

Today marks the official anniversary when the United Nations passed its Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. It was approved in 1949, and the U.N. has honored this landmark anti-slavery treaty by commemorating its passage each Dec 2nd as the International Day for the […]
December 2, 2015

Today marks the official anniversary when the United Nations passed its Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. It was approved in 1949, and the U.N. has honored this landmark anti-slavery treaty by commemorating its passage each Dec 2nd as the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

This year, Abolition Day takes on added urgency. A newly-passed Protocol on Forced Labor has been developed by the U.N. International Labor Organization (ILO). It’s a legally-binding treaty that requires governments to take new measures to tackle modern slavery in all its forms, the ILO says. It works on three main levels: protection, prevention and compensation. As an international treaty, countries must first ratify the protocol before it enters into force.

So, the ILO has launched its 50 for Freedom Campaign this year. The goal is to get at least 50 countries to pass the protocol by 2018. The protocol amends the ILO’s original anti-slavery convention from 1930, which pre-dates the later U.N. treaty. The newly-updated ILO convention takes new forms of slavery into account.

You can take a stand for freedom today in just one minute, by visiting the 50 for Freedom Campaign advocacy page and clicking your support to tell elected officials to ratify the new agreement.

This year also marks another important milestone. The U.N. has included the eradication of slavery into its new Sustainable Development Goals, approved in October by the General Assembly in New York. Read about the goals here.

“On this International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, let us resolve to use the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a roadmap for stamping out root causes and freeing all enslaved people in our world,” says U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

It’s important to combat slavery on many levels, both on the ground and at the highest levels of government. This has been a banner year for the placement of abolition into the world’s policy and development agenda. With your continued activism and support, we can leverage these developments to accelerate the effort to rid the planet of slavery forever.

Can you help end the conditions that cause modern slavery?

Related Posts

From Pain to Power: Survivors Network Kenya Launches Bold Strategic Plan to End Human Trafficking

From Pain to Power: Survivors Network Kenya Launches Bold Strategic Plan to End Human Trafficking

In a groundbreaking step for survivor leadership in Kenya, the Survivors Network Kenya (SNK) has launched its first Strategic Plan (2025–2027). Developed through a participatory, survivor-led process with support from Free the Slaves and the UK FCDO, the plan outlines a bold vision to end human trafficking and modern slavery—placing those with lived experience at the center of change.

read more
Field Visit Report: Exploring Institutional Collaboration on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor in Chile

Field Visit Report: Exploring Institutional Collaboration on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor in Chile

Free the Slaves met with national stakeholders in Chile to explore new avenues for collaboration in the fight against human trafficking and forced labor. Through targeted training, a national seminar, and strategic discussions with government officials, this visit laid the groundwork for future partnerships to strengthen institutional capacity and advance anti-slavery efforts across the country.

read more
The Modern Slavery Glossary: Standardizing the Language of Freedom

The Modern Slavery Glossary: Standardizing the Language of Freedom

Effective action against modern slavery requires more than just awareness—it demands precision. Misused or misunderstood terms can weaken policies, misdirect resources, and fail those most affected. The Modern Slavery Glossary, developed by Free the Slaves, is a vital resource designed to standardize the language used in advocacy, policy, and survivor engagement.

read more