NationStates Jolt Archive

First, I'm not a UN delegate, and though I like being a member, I don't plan to become a delegate. So this is for someone else to do, not me. I just have something to point out.

UN Resolution #6, End slavery, specifically states that "The right to travel freely throughout their country" is to be granted to "every peoples of this great world".

I hope I'm not the first to point out that this means prisoners can't be legally held in jail. Ban slavery all you want, but I want my nation to be able to hold convicts.

What do you guys think?

Welcome to the NSUN. We think you're right. And there are more problems with the resolution than that. How about members of the armed forces being allowed to walk off the job if they give two weeks notice? How about nations being unable to restrict travel to control spread of an epidemic? And we could go on and on.

The resolution is one of several that were written, proposed and passed back in the early days of the NSUN, when enthusiasm and the desire to get involved often overrode common sense. This is why so many of the early resolutions have been repealed and so many more should be.

And, for your information.... You don't have to be a UN delegate to write and submit proposals. All you need is two endorsements from members of your region. If you'd like to propose a repeal of NSUN Resolution #6, get your ideas together, write up a draft, and post it here. See what sort of reaction you get. For our part, we'll give it careful attention.

Patrick T. Olembe
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ceorana would certainly support a repeal & replace of "End Slavery". Unfortunately, we believe it will have a fluffy's chance in Antarctic Oasis of passing at the General Assembly. We will, however, assist with any efforts to repeal it.

Enrique Lopez
Ambassador to the United Nations

This is one of the few resolutions for which Gruenberg would only support a repeal on being sure of a solid replacement. One way we thought of doing it would be:

1. Pass a resolution outlawing ownership of persons (this isn't banned by Res #6), in which you state you want to repeal End Slavery.
2. Pass a repeal of End Slavery, saying you intend to further replace it.
3. Pass a resolution banning forced labour.

3. Pass a resolution banning forced labour.

What about forced labour for prisoners, though? And conscription could be viewed as a form of forced labour.

What about forced labour for prisoners, though? And conscription could be viewed as a form of forced labour.
OOC: I have always pushed the RL ICCPR, Article 8, as a good starting point:

1. No one shall be held in slavery; slavery and the slave-trade in all their forms shall be prohibited.

2. No one shall be held in servitude.

3.

(a) No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour;

(b) Paragraph 3 (a) shall not be held to preclude, in countries where imprisonment with hard labour may be imposed as a punishment for a crime, the performance of hard labour in pursuance of a sentence to such punishment by a competent court;

(c) For the purpose of this paragraph the term "forced or compulsory labour" shall not include:

(i) Any work or service, not referred to in subparagraph (b), normally required of a person who is under detention in consequence of a lawful order of a court, or of a person during conditional release from such detention;

(ii) Any service of a military character and, in countries where conscientious objection is recognized, any national service required by law of conscientious objectors;

(iii) Any service exacted in cases of emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;

(iv) Any work or service which forms part of normal civil obligations.

This is one of the few resolutions for which Gruenberg would only support a repeal on being sure of a solid replacement. One way we thought of doing it would be:

1. Pass a resolution outlawing ownership of persons (this isn't banned by Res #6), in which you state you want to repeal End Slavery.
2. Pass a repeal of End Slavery, saying you intend to further replace it.
3. Pass a resolution banning forced labour.

Yet another good suggestion by our distinguished colleague from Gruenberg. I'd be hesitant about stating in the ownership ban that you intended to repeal NSUN Resolution #6, though. It might lose less thoughtful voters.

It might also be good to divide the effort, with one nation doing the ownership ban, another the repeal, and a third the forced labor ban. This could be used to convince members that this whole thing was a serious, coordinated effort with solid support.

We'd also endorse our colleague's suggestion that the RL ICCR be taken as a starting point. It seems to cover most of the issues quite well, although we're sure others will be raised.

Patrick T. Olembe
Minister for Foreign Affairs

This is one of the few resolutions for which Gruenberg would only support a repeal on being sure of a solid replacement.

This may come as a shock to some people but I also won't support a repeal without a replacement.

Gack, I feel so dirty now.

Bob Flibble
UN Representative

OOC: Unfortunately, this resolution's never gonna be repealed.

OOC: Unfortunately, this resolution's never gonna be repealed.

OOC: I don't know, didn't we used to say that about "Gay Rights?"

OOC: Unfortunately, this resolution's never gonna be repealed.

Well, other fluffy-titled resolutions have been repealed: Scientific Freedom, Gay Rights, etc. I think this has a slight chance.

OOC: Unfortunately, this resolution's never gonna be repealed.

OOC: Well, your crystal ball must be a hell of a lot better than mine. Wish I could be so sure of things. Of course, if we discourage people from trying to repeal it, you'll be right for sure.

Gay Rights =/= Slavery

I've gotta believe there are a lot more people who oppose legislating rights for homosexuals than there are people who would support slavery, which is how we all know many people would view repealing a resolution that supposedly ended slavery.

OOC: I see no harm in trying. If it fails...meh, we'll have sent a few hundred TGs in vain. It's only a game.

There are many people in Razat who would support a repeal unconditionally. However, I think ending slavery in Razat was a net benefit despite the economic problems, and I'd want a good replacement on the table before voting for a repeal.

OOC: I think Cluitch is right about the chances for the repeal. But it would be an interesting debate.

I wold support a repeal of that irresponsible and poorly-written piece of ostrich offal. A properly-worded replacement could get my vote, especially if it focused on the international slave trade.

HotRodian UN Representative
Accelerus Dioce

Having read UN Resolutin #6, I feel it goes too far. As stated before, governments should be able to restrict the free travel of citizens in cases of military service, holding convicts, and quaranteening epidemics. Also, leaving the military with just two week's notice is downright silly, especially in countries with mandatory military service. The other clauses - as outlawing of buying and selling of people, the right to own possessions - are good ideas. I would probably support a repeal but I also would consider an ammendment; either way, this resolution needs to be either ammended or replaced.

Having read UN Resolutin #6, I feel it goes too far. As stated before, governments should be able to restrict the free travel of citizens in cases of military service, holding convicts, and quaranteening epidemics. Also, leaving the military with just two week's notice is downright silly, especially in countries with mandatory military service. The other clauses - as outlawing of buying and selling of people, the right to own possessions - are good ideas. I would probably support a repeal but I also would consider an ammendment; either way, this resolution needs to be either ammended or replaced.


http://test256.free.fr/UN%20Cards/untitled9by.png

Here, I tried to repeal End Slavery a few times and it failed, but I've been drafting a replacement.

Good Luck.

CONVINCED that slavery is a barbaric practice not befitting civilized society.

BELIEVING that no person should ever again be forced into slavery, or treated as property,

The United Nations

(1)
DEFINES a slave as one who is owned, treated like, or declared the property of another person/group; or a person who is a victim of forced labour.

(2)
DEFINES forced labour as labour conducted against the will of the labourer. under threat of severe bodily harm, financial ruin or death against the laborer, or that of those for whom they care.

(2.1)
EXCLUDES from the proceeding, but not the above definition (assuming persons involved are treated humanely, and appropriately compensated for their efforts):

(I)
Any work or service normally required of a person who is under detention in consequence of a lawful order of a court, or of a person during conditional release from such detention.
(II)
Any service of a military character required by law, with regards to conscentsous objectors.
(III)
Any work or service which forms part of normal civil obligations.

(2.2)
FURTHER DEFINES forced labour as labour conducted under threat of severe bodily harm, financial ruin or death against the labourer, or that of those for whom they care.

(3)
DEFINES the slave trade as the trading, selling, purchasing, distributing, bartering, or giving of a person as property.

(4)
DEFINES a slave trader/slaver/slave master as one who sells, barters, trades, gives, distributes or claims ownership of a human being.

(5)
MANDATES that slavery and the slave trade shall be outlawed in all UN nations.

(6)
MANDATES that no UN Nation may allow slaves to be traded through their borders, or their citizens to be enslaved overseas.

(7)
MANDATES that no UN Nation may harbour slave traders, or those peripherally but knowingly involved with the slave trade.

(8)
INSTRUCTS all UN Nations to halt shipments of slaves found in UN controlled international territory, and to liberate found slaves and grant them refugee status.

(9)
MANDATES all UN Nations punish those violating the above clauses within UN Guidlines, and a minimum of a 20-year prison sentence and a suspension of all finances and bank accounts in UN Nations. Nations without prisons may apply an equivelant punishment, or transport the convicted to another willing UN Nation that does have prisons.

(10)
STRONGLY URGES UN Nations to pressure Non-UN Nations into outlawing slavery and the slave trade.

(11)
STRONGLY URGES UN Nations to halt trade with slavery supporting Non-UN Nations.

The deliberate exclusion of conscription from your proposal still means I won't support it.

The deliberate exclusion of conscription from your proposal still means I won't support it.

What he said.

That draft seems to convey every possible point. If you can get that passed, a repeal of #6 would be easy. You set it up, and I'll help get the word out.

Quick look at the draft there. It makes no allowance for one who consents to be owned. It also could create some issues regarding the sex industry as well as the whole BDSM scene. There are probably a few more things that I could dig out, or perhaps suggest for improvements, but I'll wait to see if you are serious about finalizing this for submission first.

That draft seems to convey every possible point. If you can get that passed, a repeal of #6 would be easy. You set it up, and I'll help get the word out.

I'd have to double check the exact wording of the original and the replacement, but I think you might have to repeal the currently extant resolution before submitting the new one, or otherwise risk duplication deletion.