Anti-Slavery Day
| Anti-Slavery Day | |
|---|---|
 Cabinet Office illuminated in red lighting to mark Anti-Slavery Day in 2018 | |
| Observed by | United Kingdom |
| Type | Secular |
| Significance | Slavery in the 21st century in the United Kingdom |
| Date | 18 October |
| Next time | 18 October 2026 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 2010 |
| Related to | EU Anti-Trafficking Day |
Anti-Slavery Day is a commemoration in the United Kingdom held on 18 October to raise awareness about modern slavery and human trafficking.[1][2]
History
In 2008, the United Kingdom adopted 23 August, the UNESCO International Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, as the national focal date for commemorating the end of the slave trade.[3]
Legislation
| Anti-Slavery Day Act 2010 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to introduce a national day to raise awareness of the need to eradicate all forms of slavery, human trafficking and exploitation; and for connected purposes. |
| Citation | 2010 c. 14 |
| Introduced by | Anthony Steen (Commons) Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, Baroness Butler-Sloss (Lords) |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 8 April 2010 |
| Commencement | 8 April 2010 |
| Other legislation | |
| Relates to | Anti-Slavery Day Act 2010 (Specified Date) Order 2010 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Anti-Slavery Day Act 2010 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Anti-Slavery Day Act 2010 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which was passed to establish Anti-Slavery Day. It was introduced by the MP Anthony Steen as a private member's bill.[4] The act describes the purpose of anti-slavery day in the following terms:[5]
The purpose of Anti-Slavery Day shall be to—
- acknowledge that millions of men, women and children continue to be victims of slavery, depriving them of basic human dignity and freedom;
- raise awareness amongst young people and others of the dangers and consequences of slavery, human trafficking and exploitation and encourage them to be proactive in the fight against it;
- draw attention to—
The act defines modern slavery as including sex trafficking, child trafficking, trafficking for forced labour, domestic servitude.[5]
The law only extends to England and Wales,[5] but the day has been observed in Northern Ireland and Scotland.[6][7]
The law did not specify which date would be designated, but allowed the government to specify it.[5] To coincide with the EU Anti-Trafficking Day, 18 October was chosen by the government in September 2010.[8][9]
Commemoration
Anti-Slavery Day Awards
The Anti-Slavery Day Awards are organised by the Human Trafficking Foundation, which was founded by Anthony Steen.[10]
BBC
In 2018, the BBC published a series called Why Slavery? on modern sex slavery to coincide with Anti-Slavery Day.[11][12]
Government of the United Kingdom and devolved administrations
The day has been observed by the government of the United Kingdom.[13]
The day has been observed by the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.[7][14][6]
Further developments
To coincide with Anti-Slavery Day 2012, a consultation on a draft human trafficking law was published in August 2012.[15] The Modern Slavery Act 2015 was passed with the goal of protecting individuals who are trafficked and held against their will.[16]
References
- ↑ "UK Anti Slavery Day". The Guardian. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Anti-Slavery Day Bill". BBC News. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ International, Anti-Slavery (28 January 2008). "UK establishes national slavery memorial day". Anti-Slavery International. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Guardian and Observer win awards for reports on modern-day slavery". The Guardian. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Almandras, Sally (3 February 2010). "Anti-Slavery Day Bill" (PDF). House of Commons Library. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Slavery: PSNI investigate 54 cases since April 2019". BBC News. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Anti-slavery day marked in Scotland". BBC News. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ Edwards, Sarah; Annison, Rachel (April 2012). "All Change: Preventing Trafficking in the UK" (PDF). The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Anti-Slavery Day Act 2010 (Specified Date) Order 2010". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ Quinn, Ben (2 March 2023). "Guardian investigations win anti-slavery media awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "BBC announces new films for season exploring modern slavery". York Press. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ Carr, Flora (6 November 2018). "Viewers left harrowed by BBC2's "brutal" modern slavery drama Doing Money". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ Symonds, Tom (18 October 2013). "Human trafficking gets life term in drive on slavery". BBC News. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ "Cabinet Secretary committed to fighting modern slavery". Nation.Cymru. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ Devenport, Mark (21 August 2012). "Human trafficking bill out for public consultation". BBC News. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Slavery levels in UK 'higher than thought'". BBC News. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
External links
Media related to Anti-Slavery Day at Wikimedia Commons
Learning materials related to Anti-Slavery Day at Wikiversity
The full text of Anti-Slavery Day at Wikisource- Text of the Anti-Slavery Day as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.