Statement
Secretary-General's Message on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
New York, 2 December 2013
This year’s International Day for the Abolition of Slavery comes as the international community is intensifying efforts to eradicate poverty and forge a post-2015 development agenda. In pursuing these goals, it is vital that we give special consideration to ending modern-day slavery and servitude which affects the poorest, most socially excluded groups – including migrants, women, discriminated ethnic groups, minorities and indigenous peoples.
There has been important progress in the last year. A number of countries have acted to combat slavery through stronger domestic legislation and greater coordination. More and more businesses are working to ensure their activities do not cause or contribute to contemporary forms of slavery in the workplace and their supply chains.
I strongly support these initiatives and urge all Member States to ratify the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, develop robust and effective domestic legislation and boost enforcement on the ground. The partnership of the private sector in implementing these efforts is critical.
Civil society continues to play a major role in assisting victims, often with the support of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. For more than
20 years, the Fund has helped restore human rights and dignity to tens of thousands of children, women and men. I urge continued support for this vital initiative.
As we mark the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, let us join forces to make our world slavery-free.
Statements on 2 December 2013
- Washington, DC, 2 December 2013 - Secretary-General's message to the Fourth Replenishment of the Global Fund, 2-3 December 2013 Delivered by Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS
- Lima, Peru, 2 December 2013 - Secretary-General's closing remarks at 15th session of the General Conference of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) [as delivered]
- New York, 2 December 2013 - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the second round of municipal elections held in Kosovo on 1 December 2013
- New York, 2 December 2013 - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Ukraine
- Lima, Peru, 2 December 2013 - Secretary-General's opening remarks at the 15th session of the General Conference of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- Geneva, Switzerland, 2 December 2013 - Secretary-General's message to Thirteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction [delivered by Mr. Michael Møller, acting Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva]
- The Hague, The Netherlands, 2 December 2013 - Secretary-General's message to the Eighteenth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention [delivered by Mr. Jarmo Sareva, Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament]
- Bangkok, Thailand, 2 December 2013 - Secretary-General's message to launch Global Forum on Media and Gender, 2-4 December