BY :- SAKSHI SWAPNIL
DATE :- 2nd DECEMBER, 2021
THEME :- ENDING SLAVERY’S LEGACY OF RACISM : AGLOBAL IMPERATIVE FOR JUSTICE
ORGANISER :- UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The United Nations General Assembly is observing The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery since December 2, 1986. In terms of Resolution 317
(IV) of December 18, 2002, the Assembly designated 2004 as the International Year for the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition. This day is dedicated to increase awareness and eradicating all forms of modern-day slavery, including but not limited to child labour, forced labour, trafficking, and compelled marriage, on a global scale. Modern slavery is any condition of exploitation during which a person is unable to refute due to some kind of threats, as defined by UN. Slavery, which has existed since time immemorial, is still practiced in some way or the other today. Over forty million people are victims of modern slavery, as per the most recent data given by the International Labor
Organization (ILO).
This figure includes 15.4 million and 24.9 million people in forced marriage and forced labour respectively. The report also stated that one
out of each four victims are children. In the sex trade, women and girls make up 99 percent of the victims, while other industries make up 58 percent. The largest share of adults are employed as domestic workers at 24 percent, followed by the construction sector at 18 percent, agriculture and fishing at 11 percent and also the manufacturing sector at 15 percent. In order to bolster world-wide effects to end forced labour, The International Labour Organization (ILO) has recently come up with a legally binding Protocol enacted in November 2016.
The theme of 2021 for this day is ““Ending Slavery’s Legacy of Racism: A Global Imperative for Justice”.
This will be a campaign to raise awareness of the
significance of historical events relating to slavery and its impact in today’s world, as well as to eliminate the injustices that contribute to racism and the
underlying causes of the slave trade. On this day, various events are held every year in which government, organizations as well as common people voice their thoughts through debate, speech and various writing materials such as research
and data on slavery. We need to redouble our efforts to create a society free of modern slavery in all forms. There should be efficient enforcement of laws. In addition to that, existing laws shall be made more stringent. People can even donate to charity that works across the globe at both national as well as
international level in order to fight against this evil practice.
As Abraham Lincoln once quoted “Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.”
