United Nations Radio

The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said that despite centuries of struggle, slavery has not been completely eradicated from the world.

In a message for the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, he said that many forms of slavery persist, including forced and bonded labour, child labour and slavery for ritual or religious purposes. The Secretary-General noted that the world is now wrestling with a new form of slavery: trafficking in human beings. He said that people who perpetrate, condone or facilitate slavery or slavery-like practices should be held accountable by national law and, if necessary, international means. The Secretary-General also urged all states to ratify and implement international treaties related to this effort.