Adopted to outlaw and punish those engaged in slavery and having recourse to compulsory or forced labour, the Slavery Convention entered into force on the 9th March 1927 in Geneva, Switzerland, was on Wednesday ratified by The Gambia

It recognised the necessity at the time, to prevent forced labour from developing into conditions analogous to slavery and to secure the complete suppression of slavery in all its forms and the slave trade by land and sea.

Presenting the convention for ratification, Marie-Saine Firdaus, Attorney General and secretary of state for Justice highlighted the salient features of the convention such as  the definition and prohibition of slavery. She said the convention clearly defines slavery and what constitutes slave trade and obligates the parties to prevent and suppress the slave trade and to progressively bring a complete end to slavery in all forms as well as adopt appropriate measures to prevent and suppress transportation of slaves in their territorial waters and upon all vessels plying their respective flags.

" It also requires parties to enact laws to give effect to the convention and provide punishments and severe penalties for infraction of the laws. It also obligates parties to provide assistance to one another to end slavery and slave trade and provides for disputes arising between parties with respect to application or interpretation of the convention to be settled by negotiations or be referred to the International Court of Justice or some other court of Arbitration" she said.

Supporting the ratification, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, NAM for Serrekunda East and Majority leader said The Gambia has already domesticated such laws in the constitution describing it as non-controversial.

Sedia Jatta, NAM for Wuli West, questioned the delay in the ratification of the convention since it was entered into force in 1927.