GENEVA – The official ending of the system of chattel enslavement by the 19th century did not usher in a world free of its legacies. On the contrary, contemporary forms of slavery remain a stain on our world. Today, we mark a historic milestone: one hundred years since the adoption of the Slavery Convention of 25 September 1926. On this centenary, we honour a landmark achievement of the international community and reaffirm our collective commitment to eradicate slavery in all its forms.
The Slavery Convention stands as one of the earliest and most significant expressions of international cooperation to protect human dignity. At a time when the modern international human rights framework had yet to emerge, States came together in Geneva to recognize that slavery was an affront to humanity and that its abolition was a matter of common concern requiring collective action.
The Convention laid the foundation for a century of progress in international law. It established the principle that no person should be treated as property and helped shape the development of subsequent international instruments dedicated to the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and human dignity. In this sense, the Slavery Convention is not only a historic treaty; it is a cornerstone of the international human rights system. We recognise the vital contributions of human rights defenders, activists and civil society actors who have helped advance efforts to eradicate slavery and protect the rights and dignity of affected individuals and communities.
The legacy of slavery can be seen across the international legal architecture that followed, from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights to the numerous conventions addressing forced labour, trafficking in persons, child exploitation, and contemporary forms of slavery. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery. This instrument strengthened international efforts to eradicate slavery by targeting practices such as debt bondage, serfdom, servile marriage, and the exploitation of children.
The principle first affirmed in Geneva in 1926 remains clear and compelling today: every human being is born free and equal in dignity and rights.
A century after States committed, under article 2 of the Slavery Convention, to bring about the complete abolition of slavery in all its forms, that promise remains unfulfilled. Slavery has evolved rather than disappeared, taking new and often hidden forms that continue to rob millions of their liberty, dignity and human rights, trapping them in cycles of exploitation and abuse. Meanwhile, traditional forms of slavery, including descent-based slavery, continue to persist in some regions. These abuses disproportionately affect those facing poverty, discrimination, armed conflict, climate change, displacement, migration and marginalization. In some contexts, unilateral coercive measures and their adverse humanitarian impacts may contribute to forced migration and increase vulnerability to trafficking in persons and other forms of exploitation. Gender dynamics continue to shape the manifestations of slavery and access protection and support, producing different experiences for women and girls, men and boys, and trans and other gender diverse persons. Rampant impunity remains a key driver of contemporary forms of slavery, enabling violations to persist while depriving victims of justice, effective remedies and guarantees of non-recurrence.
We reaffirm the importance of addressing the enduring legacies of the enslavement of Africans and colonialism, which continue to fuel inequalities, discrimination and social injustice worldwide. Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent have suffered grave and disproportionate impacts from traditional and contemporary forms of slavery, exacerbated by persistent dispossession and marginalization.
The centenary of the Slavery Convention is therefore not only an occasion for remembrance, but also an urgent call to action. It calls on States, international organizations, civil society, businesses and communities to confront these legacies, strengthen efforts to eliminate contemporary forms of slavery, and ensure accountability, protection and access to justice for victims and survivors.
As we commemorate one hundred years since the international community adopted the Slavery Convention, we reaffirm the enduring values that inspired it: human dignity, freedom, equality, and solidarity. These principles remain as relevant today as they were in 1926.
We urge all States that have not yet ratified the Slavery Convention, 1926, and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, 1956, to do so without delay as a tangible expression of their renewed commitment to eradicating slavery in all its forms.
The international human rights system, including Special Procedures experts, Treaty Bodies and the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, stands united in its commitment to eradicate contemporary forms of slavery, recognising that sustainable solutions can only be achieved when survivors’ voices, leadership and lived experiences are at the heart.
