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English > Professional Interest > Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery
Text in PDF Format
Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave
Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery
Adopted by a Conference of Plenipotentiaries convened by Economic and
Social Council resolution 608(XXI) of 30 April 1956
and done at Geneva on 7 September 1956
Entry into force: 30 April 1957, in accordance with article 13
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Convention ,
Considering that freedom is the birthright of every human being,
See also
The core international
human rights instruments
Universal human rights
instruments
Charter of the United
Nations
The International Bill of
Human Rights
Universal Declaration of
Human Rights 1948
Links
Mindful that the peoples of the United Nations reaffirmed in the Charter their faith in the dignity and worth of the
human person,
Human rights
conferences
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United
Nations as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, states that no one shall be held in
slavery or servitude and that slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms,
Human rights bodies
Recognizing that, since the conclusion of the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926, which
was designed to secure the abolition of slavery and of the slave trade, further progress has been made towards
this end,
Having regard to the Forced Labour Convention of 1930 and to subsequent action by the International Labour
Organisation in regard to forced or compulsory labour,
Being aware , however, that slavery, the slave trade and institutions and practices similar to slavery have not yet
been eliminated in all parts of the world,
Having decided , therefore, that the Convention of 1926, which remains operative, should now be augmented by
the conclusion of a supplementary convention designed to intensify national as well as international efforts
towards the abolition of slavery, the slave trade and institutions and practices similar to slavery,
Have agreed as follows:
Section I. - Institutions and practices similar to slavery
Article 1
Each of the States Parties to this Convention shall take all practicable and necessary legislative and other
measures to bring about progressively and as soon as possible the complete abolition or abandonment of the
following institutions and practices, where they still exist and whether or not they are covered by the definition of
slavery contained in article 1 of the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926:
(a) Debt bondage, that is to say, the status or condition arising from a pledge by a debtor of his personal
services or of those of a person under his control as security for a debt, if the value of those services as
reasonably assessed is not applied towards the liquidation of the debt or the length and nature of those services
are not respectively limited and defined;
(b) Serfdom, that is to say, the condition or status of a tenant who is by law, custom or agreement bound to live
and labour on land belonging to another person and to render some determinate service to such other person,
whether for reward or not, and is not free to change his status;
(c) Any institution or practice whereby:
Publications
The 20th Anniversary of
the OHCHR
VDPA booklet (20th
anniversary edition PDF)