Human Rights Introduction |
1930
The ILO adopts the Convention Concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour
The first International Labour Conference held in Washington in October 1919 adopted six International Labour Conventions, which dealt with hours of work in industry, unemployment, maternity protection, night work for women, minimum working age, and night work for young persons in industry. Although it had been condemned as early as the mid-19th century, mankind faced force labour even after the 1930 convention. The elimination of its numerous forms - old and new, ranging from slavery and debt bondage to trafficking in human beings - remains a most complex challenge. However, the ILO convention was the first legal document of international relevance to address this issue and a source of reference of all later international initiatives in the field.