Your trusted source

On the eve of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, on Tuesday, December 1, UN Secretary General António Guterres noted that at present more than 40 million people in the world are subjected to modern forms of slavery, of which 71% are girls and women. His statement was posted on the organization’s website.

“Poor and marginalized groups, in particular racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples and migrants, are disproportionately affected by contemporary forms of slavery. Gender inequality further enhances the pattern of discrimination, ”the secretary general stressed.

Guterres called on all UN members “to make even more efforts to put an end to these abhorrent practices.”

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is celebrated on 2 December. It is related to the date of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (Resolution 317 (IV) of December 2, 1949).

The Day aims to eradicate modern forms of slavery such as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labor, forced marriage, bride sale, widow inheritance and the forcible recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.