| 1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery | |
|---|---|
| Signed | 7 September 1956 |
| Location | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Effective | 30 April 1957 |
| Condition | Fulfilled |
| Parties | 97 as at February 2002[1](Convention and subsequent Protocol) |
| Depositary | :
The Convention was adopted by the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on a Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery. The Conference was convened pursuant to resolution 608 (XXI)1 of 30 April 1956 of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and met at the European Office of the United Nations in Geneva from 13 August to 4 September 1956. In addition to the Convention, the Conference adopted the Final Act and two resolutions for the texts of which, see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 226, p. 3. |
The full title of this treaty is: The United Nations 1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery. A 1926 Slavery Convention proposed to secure the abolition of slavery and of the slave trade. The Forced Labour Convention of 1930 preceded it.
The treaty augments the 1926 Convention by acting to ban debt bondage, serfdom, servile marriage and child servitude.
Article 1
The parties commit to abolish and abandon debt bondage, serfdom, servile marriage and child servitude.
Article 2
The parties commit to enacting minimum ages of marriage, encouraging registration of marriages, and encouraging the public declaration of consent to marriage.
Article 3
Criminalisation of slave trafficking.
Article 4
Runaway slaves who take refuge on flag vessels of parties shall thereby attain their freedom.
Article 5
Criminalisation of the marking (including mutilation and branding) of slaves and servile persons.
Article 6
Criminalisation of enslavement and giving others into slavery.