OPENING STATEMENT OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE WORKING GROUP ON CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF SLAVERY, 23rd SESSION, 18-28 MAY 1998

Geneva, 18 May 1998



Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,

J'ai l'honneur de déclarer ouverte la vingt-troisième session du Groupe de Travail sur les formes contemporaines d'esclavage.

Je saisis l'occasion qui m'est offerte aujourd'hui pour souhaiter la bienvenue à Mme Halima Embarek Warzazi, M. Ioan Maxim et M. David Weissbrodt membres actuels du groupe de travail ainsi qu'à Mme Marianela Ferriol Echevarría nommée pour remplacer M. Lindgren Alves. J'ai également appris que M. Yozo Yokota rejoindrait votre Groupe à la fin de la semaine en tant que représentant des membres asiatiques, en attendant que la Sous-Commission désigne à sa prochaine session le membre pour la région Asie pour ce Groupe de travail.

Je me félicite de la présence prévue parmis vous de M. Saad-Bouh Kamara membre du Conseil d'administration du Fonds de contribution volontaire pour les formes contemporaine de l'esclavage. Sa contribution sera sans aucun doute utile à vos discussions.

Je souhaite également la bienvenue aux observateurs gouvernementaux qui ont instauré un dialogue fructueux avec les membres du groupe de travail, dialogue qui a été salué dans les rapports que le groupe de travail a soumis après les travaux de ses 20ème, 21ème et 22ème sessions, aux représentants des institutions spécialisées et des organisations intergouvernmentales dont les activités s'inscrivent dans la lutte contre les divers aspects de l'esclavage contemporain, ainsi qu'aux représentants des organisations non gouvernementales dont la compétence, la présence fidèle chaque année et la somme d'informations communiquées aux membres du groupe ont efficacement contribué aux travaux du groupe de travail, notamment en matière d'identification des problèmes et de propositions de mesures palliatives. Je saisis cette occasion pour rendre un hommage particulier à ces organisations non gouvernementales. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The whole world agrees that contemporary forms of slavery ought to be abolished. It is important that the question of Contemporary Forms of Slavery should be taken up in earnest, and finally settled.

At the dawn of the 21st century, national laws ban slavery and its prohibition is enshrined in international treaties and in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights which the international community is actually commemorating its 50th Anniversary. Article 4 of the Universal Declaration guarantees that 'No one shall be held in slavery or servitude, slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms'. But still, slavery is not dead. It continues to be reported in a wide range of forms: traditional chattel slavery, bonded labour, serfdom, child labour, migrant labour, domestic labour, forced labour and slavery for ritual or religious purposes.

I intend to give priority myself as High Commissioner to addressing trafficking of women and children in two areas Central and Eastern Europe and Cambodia/ Thailand/ Vietnam axis in order to give urgent support to those combatting this problem on the ground and to raise it to the highest political level with governments in those regions and other relevant governments eg of receipient countries.

The victims of Contemporary forms of slavery are characterised by their poverty and by their vulnerability. Their poverty is linked to the general problems of economic development in their society, their vulnerability is a matter which governments have a responsibility to deal with in order to uphold the fundamental human rights of parts of their population which will otherwise face a form of discrimination.

This year many countries are celebrating more than a century of abolition of slavery in their countries; the United Kingdom commemorates 191 years, France 150 years, Netherlands 138 years, Spain 127 years and Brazil 110 years. Many efforts have been made by state members and by the United Nations to abolish all forms of slavery. Again and again it has been fondly hoped that it was settled, but every time new forms of slavery occurred more complex and evil than ever; such as child sexual commercial exploitation or child labour.

Your Work has made it possible to raise awareness and consistent with your recommendations those state members have ratified the two conventions on slavery; the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery and the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. I also fully encourage your initiative to promote the cooperation and collaboration with other United Nations bodies. Last year this working group, strongly encouraged 'the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to participate in the twenty'third session of the Working Group, in view of the importance of her contribution to its deliberations'; and you invited 'the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of systematic rape, sexual slavery and slavery'like practices during periods of armed conflict to participate in the twenty'third session of the Working Group'

All the treaty bodies of the UN should come together to find a solution on how to bring states to ratify and implement the different international instruments on slavery and to identify what needs to be done to eliminate slavery in all parts of the world.

Respect for ourselves, regard for future generations, require that slavery should always be a great moral, social and political evil. Slaves; men, women and children are not property but human beings. In the framework of the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration provide an excellent occasion to declare stronger than ever that slaves are members of the human family and to consider the question of slavery a great moral wrong.

The debates which preceded the adoption of the two most important international conventions against slavery the first in 1926 and the second in 1956, provide ample information about the various forms of slavery which the international community wished to eliminate. The twentieth century comes to its end and unfortunately slavery in all its forms has not been abolished. Here is a need to take steps to accede universally to this convention. In practice national laws need to be adapted to international conventions against Slavery.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the ILO report on the root of the commercial sexual exploitation of children in many countries. According to this report the phenomenon lies in poverty and on the inability of rural and urban families to support and educate their children.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to refer to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. It is my pleasure to note that it has received new contributions from the Governments of South Africa and Turkey and pledges from the Government of Cyprus, Kuwait and United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, due to the insufficient amount of contributions received by the Fund, the 4th session of the Board of Trustees scheduled for March 1998 had to be postponed. In that regard, I wish to make an appeal to all governments and NGOs to contribute to the Fund - as laid down in General Assembly resolution 46/122 of 17 December 1991 -"to assist representatives of non-governmental organizations from different regions, dealing with issues of contemporary forms of slavery, to participate in the deliberations of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery by providing them with financial assistance and, secondly, to extend, through the established channels of assistance, humanitarian, legal and financial aid to individuals whose human rights have been severely violated as a result of contemporary forms of slavery".

Allow me to conclude by wishing you success in your deliberations, which my Office and myself will carefully follow.

I thank you for your attention.