By the early 20th century chattel slavery was illegal in the western world but was widespread in Africa, the Middle East and certain remote areas. Chattel slaves had no rights. In the 1920s and 1930s the League of Nations established committees to investigate slavery "in all its forms". These expanded the definition of slavery to include forced labour, forced or child marriage, the inheritance of widows, the adoption of children for their exploitation, pawning, peonage, and debt bondage. The International Labour Organization investigated forced labour. Conventions were signed against both slavery and forced labour. After World War II, the United Nations, and the International Labour Organization, set up committees to investigate all forms of servitude and denial of human rights. They negotiated further conventions. Chattel slavery was outlawed everywhere from 1970 although it continued in remote areas. However, there was a great increase in other forms of exploitation, now known as "contemporary slavery" These include debt bondage, forced prostitution, trafficking in people, child labour, sweated labour, sex-tourism, child soldiers and adoption for exploitation; all fuelled by disparities in the wealth of nations, small wars, the ease of communication and money laundering, together with the rise of organized crime. This article traces the changes in the forms and definitions of slavery in the 20th century and considers the action taken by the League of Nations, the United Nations, and the rapidly proliferating non-govern mental organizations.

Colonialism non-governmental organizations Anti-slavery International Trafficking in people Slavery conventions Chattel slavery International Labor Organization United Nations Organization League of Nations Contemporary slavery Forced labor

forced migration twentieth century slave United Nations