Dr. Carlos Espaliú, Director of the Charlemagne Institute of European Studies, recently published an article on the definition of slavery in international law at the turn of the 21st century.
The article appeared in issue 28 of the scientific journal Revista Electrónica de Estudios Internacionales.
In the article, Espaliú writes, “The last few years has seen a resurgence of the phenomenon of slavery in the broadest sense of the word. It is therefore helpful to examine the concept of ‘slavery’ in international law in order to determine whether it encompasses the new forms of human exploitation that continue to emerge.”
Espaliú analyses the trajectory of the term “slavery” since the League of Nations’ 1926 Slavery Convention. The definition agreed upon at that convention is generally considered the first definition of slavery in international law. Espaliú discusses how this definition has evolved in subsequent legal texts and the ways in which it has been analysed and applied by international courts.
“After this assessment, the definition can still be considered a relevant and useful tool in the struggle against slavery in the present day”, Espaliú concludes.
The Revista Electrónica de Estudios Internacionales is published by the Spanish Association of Professors of International Law and International Relations (AEPDIRI).
