UNSG message on THE INTERNATIONAL DAY 

FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY 

 

Dr. Jassim Taqui DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, 29 November,  As we commemorate the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, we need to recognize that the legacy of the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans reverberates to this day, scarring our societies and impeding equitable development.   

 

We must also identify and eradicate contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, child labor, forced marriage, and the use of children in armed conflict.  The latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery on forced labor and forced marriage reveal that, in 2021, some 50 million persons were thus enslaved, and this number has been growing.  

 

The most marginalized groups remain particularly vulnerable, including ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities, migrants, children, and persons with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.  The majority of these vulnerable persons are women.  

  

On this International Day, I call on Governments and societies to recommit to eradicating slavery.  Increased action needs to be taken with the full participation of all stakeholders, including the private sector, trade unions, civil society, and human rights institutions.  I also urge all countries to protect and uphold the rights of victims and survivors of slavery.