[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 524 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 524

          Supporting the goals and ideals of Anti-Slavery Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 11, 2004

    Mr. Engel (for himself and Mr. Burton of Indiana) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          Supporting the goals and ideals of Anti-Slavery Day.

Whereas Free the Slaves, the American sister organization to Anti-Slavery 
        International in the United Kingdom, the oldest human rights 
        organization in the world founded in 1839, has declared February 27, 
        2004 as Anti-Slavery Day;
Whereas Anti-Slavery Day is a day on which all peoples observe and bring to 
        attention the existence of slavery in the world today;
Whereas in 2004 approximately 27,000,000 people are enslaved around the world.
Whereas the Declaration of Independence recognizes the inherent dignity and 
        worth of all people and states that all people are ``created equal'' and 
        ``endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights,'' which 
        includes the right to be free from slavery and involuntary servitude;
Whereas the United States outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude in 1865, 
        recognizing them, in the 13th amendment to the Constitution, as 
        inherently evil institutions that must be abolished;
Whereas the United States and the international community have repeatedly 
        condemned slavery, involuntary servitude, and human trafficking through 
        declarations, treaties and United Nations resolutions and reports, 
        including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1926 Slavery 
        Convention, the 1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of 
        Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to 
        Slavery, the 1948 American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, 
        the 1957 Abolition of Forced Labor Convention, the International 
        Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against 
        Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishing;
Whereas the prohibition against slavery has achieved the level of customary 
        international law and has attained jus cogens status and the practice of 
        slavery has been universally accepted as a crime against humanity;
Whereas slavery is characterized by the complete control of one person by 
        another using violence or its threat and economic exploitation;
Whereas slavery has dramatically increased worldwide in the past 50 years due, 
        in part, to the world's population tripling in that period, resulting in 
        large numbers of poor and vulnerable people; and also the economic 
        transformation of the developing world has increased the vulnerability 
        of the poor to enslavement; and also corruption of government and police 
        that allows violence to be used with impunity even where slavery is 
        nominally illegal;
Whereas slavery thrives in situations of conflict, social disruption, political 
        chaos, and economic crisis;
Whereas the traffic in human beings is third only to the traffic in drugs and 
        weapons in generating profits for organized crime worldwide;
Whereas 800,000-900,000 of the world's slaves are estimated to be trafficked 
        across international borders each year and 18,000-20,000 slaves are 
        trafficked into the United States each year;
Whereas Free the Slaves' research indicates that slavery is present in most 
        countries and slavery affects those who are most vulnerable and have 
        less social and economic power in their communities--especially women 
        and children;
Whereas slaves in the world are exploited in many economic sectors, and many 
        women and children are trafficked into situations of sexual 
        exploitation;
Whereas education and economic empowerment, especially that of women and girls, 
        have proven to be the most powerful preventative measures to combat 
        slavery;
Whereas slavery is a global crime and is integrated into the global economy and 
        requires a global approach for its eradication, and increased public 
        education for all citizens;
Whereas slave-made goods feed into the global economy and enter the markets of 
        the United States in violation of United States laws;
Whereas the Free the Slaves, American Labor Organizations, and American Industry 
        working with Members of Congress have developed a multisectorial 
        approach to eradicate slavery from the product chains of goods which 
        prevents slavery from entering our homes;
Whereas in September 2003 the United States levied sanctions on Burma, North 
        Korea and Cuba for failing to meet the minimum standards for combating 
        human trafficking as outlined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 
        of 2000;
Whereas President George W. Bush stated in his address to the United Nations on 
        September 23, 2003, ``Nearly two centuries after the abolition of the 
        trans-Atlantic slave trade, and more than a century after slavery was 
        officially ended in its last strongholds, the trade in human beings for 
        any purpose must not be allowed to thrive in our time.'';
Whereas Americans recognize the intrinsic values of self-determination and 
        freedom for the individual, and that an abomination such as slavery 
        shall not be permitted to violate human dignity;
Whereas the United States must continue to take an active and effective role in 
        confronting slavery worldwide; and
Whereas more and more teachers across the United States are including modern 
        slavery and human rights education in their social studies, citizenship, 
        and history curricula: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Anti-Slavery Day;
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe Anti-
        Slavery Day with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and 
        activities; and
            (3) encourages each city and State to adopt laws that 
        protect slaves who are victims of trafficking; increases 
        communication between social service agencies, local, State, 
        and Federal law enforcement; provides training and support to 
        the general public, social service providers, and law 
        enforcement officials so that they can better identify 
        trafficked persons.
                                 <all>