Mauritania ratified 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention

Mauritania on 14 March 2016 became the second African country to ratify the 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention 1930.

Prior to Mauritania, Niger (Africa), Norway (Europe) and the United Kingdom (Europe) ratified the protocol.

The protocol requires States to take effective measures for prevention of forced labour, protection of victims and ensuring their access to justice and compensation.

Background

• The ILO estimates that about 21 million men, women, and children are in forced labour – trafficked, held in debt bondage, or working under slave-like conditions.

• The vast majority of these forced labourers – almost 19 million – are exploited in the private economy, by individuals or enterprises.

• Another 2.2 million (10 percent) are in state-imposed forms of forced labour, including forced labour imposed by paramilitary forces.

• To address the issue, governments, employers, and workers at the ILO International Labour Conference supported the adoption of the new ILO Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930.

• Besides, a Recommendation on supplementary measures for addressing forced labour was also adopted.

• If widely ratified and implemented by ILO member countries, the Protocol and Recommendation promise to act as a catalyst for achieving the vision of a world without forced labour.

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