The slave trade is probably the human tragedy that affected the greatest number of people for the longest period of time in History. However, it is only an episode of slavery, which is a larger phenomenon that dates back to the earliest Antiquity.

Today, it persists under new forms of massive violations of the human rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations in 1948 (child labour, forced labour, prostitution...etc).

For more information, please visit the following websites: International Labour Organisation ILO, United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights UNHCR and UNESCO Sector for Human and Social Sciences.

Today various international conventions outlaw slavery and human trafficking.
See legal instruments.