Following the observation of the 200th anniversary of the passing of the ‘Abolition of the Slave Trade Act’, the United Kingdom Foreign Office, Minister Lan McCartney has commented on the work of the UK Government which continues to eradicate slavery around the world.

According to a press release from the British High Commission in Banjul, Minister Lan McCartney in a message stated that around the world, millions of people still live in contemporary forms of slavery two centuries after the argument for abolition was won. He added that slavery in today’s world covers a number of human rights violations such as forced labour to forced marriage; bonded labour to people trafficking, child labour to slavery by descent.

“It affects the poorest and most vulnerable groups in societies around the world. Slavery is difficult to uncover and to resolve, since fear and the need for survival deter its victims from coming forward” he said.

He then stated that the international community must take its inspiration from the determination and courage of the abolitationists of 200 years ago and work together to end this scourge.

“For our part, the Foreign Office is working hard across the world to end slavery. We are launching a worldwide lobbying campaign on the ratification and implementation of international standards that prohibit slavery. Later in the year, we will also be hosting a high-level conference with DflD on the links between slavery, poverty and development, which we hope will lead to more effective collaboration to tackle these interrelated issues” he said.

Minister Lan McCartney pointed out that slavery has long been a concern for them adding that in 1823 the Foreign Office established a Slave Trade Department, devoted to the monitoring of the application of international agreements relating to the suppression of the slave trade.