PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF SLAVERY (17 January 2002)

That this House expresses its deep concern at continuing reports that many individuals throughout the world live in slavery or are subject to slavery-like practices including the commercial sexual exploitation of children, trafficking in persons, forced marriages, bonded and forced labour, debt bondage and serfdom; reaffirms its commitment to the principles of those United Nations conventions which seek to protect individuals from all forms of slavery; notes that in the past the United Kingdom has contributed to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery which support projects aimed at the elimination of such oppressive conditions and provides financial assistance to enable victims to attend the relevant UN Working Group in Geneva and testify to their sufferings; welcomes the news that a number of European and other States as well as non-governmental organisations contribute generously to the said Trust Fund; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to play an active role in bringing about concerted international action to suppress all forms of slavery and in particular to resume contributing, on a regular basis in future, to the said United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery.

Sponsored by:
Dr David Drew (Labour)