GENEVA – (25 september 2026) 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.
*The experts:
- Katarina Schwarz, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons
- Andrea Bolaños Vargas, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Attiya Waris, Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights .
- Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers
- Nils Muižnieks, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus
- Robert McCorquodale (Chairperson), Ms. Fernanda Hopenhaym (Vice-Chairperson), Ms. Lyra Jakulevičienė, Ms. Pichamon Yeophantong, and Mr. Damilola Olawuyi, Working Group on Business and Human Rights
- Grażyna Baranowska (Chair-Rapporteur), Ana Lorena Delgadillo Perez (Vice-Chairperson), Aua Balde, Gabriella Citroni and Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
- Mariângela Batista Galvão Simão, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Ashwini K.P., the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
- Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967
- Paula Gaviria, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Cecilia M. Bailliet, the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity
Graeme Reid, the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/ie-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity) - Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Alexandra Xanthaki, the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights
- Morris Tidball-Binz, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
- Elena Carolina Díaz Galán, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Nicolas Levrat, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Astrid Puentes Riaño, the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment
- Gehad Madi, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Bethanie Margaret Carney Almroth, the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes
- Zaina Jallad, the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights
- Ben Saul, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
- Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Bernard Duhaime, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
- Surya Deva, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development
- Farida Shaheed, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education
- Sofía Monsalve Suárez, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Ana Brian Nougrères, the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy
- Albert K. Barume, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Gina Romero, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- Ai Kihara-Hunt, the Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children
- Richard Bennett, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea Elizabeth Salmón, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Mai Sato, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Mariana Katzarova, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation
- Pau Pérez Sales, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Reem Alsalem, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences
- Isabelle Mamadou, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
- Matthew Gillett, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
- Claudia Flores, the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls
- Shalmali Guttal, the Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas
- Michelle Small, the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination
- Susan Coppedge and Fatimata M’Baye, co-chairs, Board of Trustees of the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
- Gun Kut (Chair), Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Wafaa Bassim, Rodrigo A. Carazo, Mahjoub El Haiba, Ivan Šimonovic and Bacre Waly Ndiaye, Human Rights Committee
- María Luisa Romero (Chair), UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
- Juan Pablo Alban Alencastro (Chair), UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances
- Prasad Kariyawasam (Chair), Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
- Claude Heller (Chair), Committee against Torture
- Sophie Kiladze, Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Nahla Haidar is the Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
