The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed annually on December 2. The theme of 2025 is "Acknowledge the past. Repair the present. Build a future of dignity and justice". The purpose of observing this day is to take action to secure the rights of the victims trapped in slavery.
Many people across the world are suffering due to the modern slavery of being forced to work or stay in a forced marriage. Everyone has thier right to live according to thier wish. Therefore, the UN has decided to observe the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery to raise awareness the people about the rising issues of modern slavery.
The Focus: Stopping Contemporary Slavery
The main purpose of the International Day is to push for the complete end to all contemporary forms of slavery. This fight is very important because the problem of modern slavery is getting worse.
Recent estimates show that about 50 million people worldwide were trapped in modern slavery in one recent year. These people are being forced to work or are being forced into marriage against their will.
This crime is also highly profitable for the people who do it. The annual global profit made from forced labour alone is estimated to be over 230 billion US dollars. This money is effectively wages stolen from workers, which helps criminal groups and hurts the rule of law.
Why is December 2nd important?
The date, December 2nd, was chosen because of a major step taken by the United Nations decades ago. On this day in 1949, the UN General Assembly created a key international agreement. This agreement is called the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others.
This document was a landmark decision. It provided a framework for countries to work together to stop the buying, selling, and exploitation of human beings. The day now focuses on building on that historical foundation to get rid of all practices that resemble slavery in the present day.
What Modern Slavery Looks Like?
Modern slavery is a term that covers many different ways people are controlled and exploited. It refers to situations where a person cannot leave a terrible job or living situation because of threats, force, lies, or misuse of power.
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Forced Labour: This happens when people are made to work against their will and are not paid fairly, or at all. Victims are often trapped by huge debts or threats of violence. This type of exploitation is seen in construction sites, agricultural fields, domestic homes, and factories. Around 28 million people were in forced labour in 2021.
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Forced Marriage: This occurs when a person, often a woman or a girl, is forced to marry someone without their full and free consent. This affects an estimated 22 million people.
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Human Trafficking: This means moving, recruiting, or receiving people using force, threats, or deception so that they can be exploited.
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Child Labour: This includes the worst forms of child labour, where children are forced to do dangerous or harmful work. This work steals their childhood, health, and education. Almost one out of every eight people trapped in forced labour is a child.