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Anti-Slavery International, as we know it today, was founded as the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society in 1839 by members of the movement fighting for the end of the transatlantic slave trade. These men, who included Joseph Sturge, Thomas Foxwell Buxton, William Allen and Thomas Clarkson, amongst many others, knew that they may have won the battle but the war was far from over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                            Thomas Clarkson, Charles Turner, after Alfred Edward Chalon, 1828.

                            David Kirkham, Wisbech & Fenland Museum

 

Over the next 180 years Anti-Slavery International was involved in landmark campaigns around the world, such as

• bringing an end to the horrific slavery practices carried out by Leopold II in Congo Free State.

• influencing numerous international laws and conventions, providing legal protections for millions of people affected by slavery across the world.

• helping to force cocoa producers in West Africa to go Fairtrade and address child trafficking;

• successfully campaigning for the UK Parliament to make forced labour a criminal offence

• being one of the first to investigate abuses of the ‘kafalah’ system for migrant workers in the Middle East; including in Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

And ending the indentured labour system of Indian and Chinese people in the British colonies, and influencing the content of the 1956 UN Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, which set down in international law the need to end the modern forms of slavery – including debt bondage, child and forced marriage and forced labour.

Anti-Slavery International as an organisation could be called a piece of living history – it has a continuous timeline of activity under the same general crede from its origin to the present day. However, the Anti-Slavery International of today is not exactly the same as the Anti-Slavery International that was formed in 1839. Which is a good thing, because the way that people become trapped in slavery is different today than it was 180 years ago.

Modern slavery is characterized less by chains, bars and documents of ownership and much more by coercion and fear. One of the most chilling things about modern slavery is that it can be found in every country in the world today, despite being illegal in every country.

 

How does modern slavery happen?

The four root causes of slavery are discrimination, poverty, vulnerability and weak rule of law. Different forms of slavery are more common in different parts of the world – but it always involves the most vulnerable members of society. If people are in a position where they can’t earn a decent living and are discriminated against due to their race, gender age or religion, they are more likely to accept risky job offers, and have less chance to stand up for themselves. Its people in these situations who are especially vulnerable to being exploited and becoming trapped in modern slavery.

 

What we do at Anti-Slavery International is we try to address the causes that make people vulnerable to slavery; and make sure there are systems and support to help them rebuild their lives when they leave slavery. We work with grassroots partners, local communities, governments, businesses and other NGOs to build a strong network of people and programs to dismantle the systems that perpetuate slavery.

 

                          Children in ‘modern daara’. Anti-Slavery International

 

In the past 10 years we have worked with people such as survivors of the Kafala system in the Gulf, children trapped in forced labour in cacao farms, and survivors of traditional (descent-based) slavery systems across West Africa. In 2008 we supported a landmark case by Hadijatou Mani, a former slave in Niger. Hadijatou took her government to court for failing to protect her from slavery; and won. The ruling set a legal precedent on the obligations of states to protect its citizens from slavery.

 

What each of us can do to help fight against those 4 root causes of slavery?

We each have the power to educate ourselves and understand the risks and circumstances that force people into exploitative situations; we can speak up against slavery and show our governments that modern slavery and survivor care is something that matters to their constituents; we can use our consumer power to call out businesses who ignore modern slavery abuses in their supply chains; and we can share information with our friends and family and encourage them to take action too.

Everyone has a part to play in ending slavery and bringing freedom to everyone, everywhere, always.

To learn more about Anti-Slavery International’s work and how you can help, please email info@antislavery.org