Slavery in international law

Slavery in International Law refers to the body of international law that prohibits slavery and the slave trade. The prohibition of slavery has been recognized as a jus cogens norm, meaning it is a fundamental principle of international law from which no derogation is permitted.

History

The prohibition of slavery in international law has its roots in the abolitionist movement of the 19th century. The first international treaty to ban the slave trade was the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, which ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. This was followed by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, which declared a general commitment to end the slave trade.

In 1926, the League of Nations adopted the Slavery Convention, which was the first international treaty to address slavery itself. The Convention defined slavery and called for its complete abolition. The Convention was later supplemented by the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery in 1956, which expanded the definition of slavery and called for the abolition of practices similar to slavery.

Modern Slavery and International Law

Despite the prohibition of slavery in international law, modern slavery continues to exist in various forms, including forced labor, debt bondage, human trafficking, and child labor. International law has responded to these challenges through a number of treaties and conventions, including the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (also known as the Palermo Protocol), and the International Labour Organization's (ILO) conventions on forced labor and child labor.

Enforcement

Enforcement of the prohibition of slavery in international law is primarily the responsibility of states. However, international bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) can also play a role in enforcing the prohibition of slavery. The ICC, for example, has jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, which includes enslavement as a crime against humanity.

See also

• Human rights
• International humanitarian law
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

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