ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the debate about slavery by offering a perspective to include the many millions of children who have suffered a particular form of slavery, severe labour exploitation in its many forms. It presents the development of slavery since the mid-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century, when international legislation against slavery – recognized by then as a continuing large-scale phenomenon – began to develop. Children have historically been found in a variety of forced labour situations alongside or often instead of adults, particularly in the latter case where their situation and abilities are preferred to those of adults, such as in making aspects of clothing or jewellery. The scope of modern slavery goes beyond chattel slavery to include forced labour, debt bondage, the severe economic exploitation of children, and the harvesting of organs, including possibly human embryos.
