SAMPLE POSITION PAPER

Committee: Human Rights Commission

Agenda: Eradication of slavery in newly industrialized society
Country: Malaysia
Delegates Name: XYZ
Schools Name: ABC School
Abolition of slavery in the 19th century did not put a stop to it; several forms of
modern day slavery have evolved over the years. According to the 1956 UN
Supplementary Convention, modern day slavery is defined as debt bondage,
serfdom, forced marriage and the deliveries of a child for the exploitation of that
child are all slavery-like practices and require criminalization and abolishment".
Though modern day slavery affects a cross section of the population but some
groups of people are more vulnerable to slavery and other inhumane practices.
Girls and women are most vulnerable groups of the entire population that are
affected by slavery and trafficking.
Various recognized contemporary forms of modern slavery include human
trafficking, forced marriage, sexual slavery, child labour, domestic servitude and
forced labour. Around 35.8 million people around the world are trapped in slavery
across the globe and the whole slave industry is estimated at a whooping US$ 150
billion a year.
Malaysia is mainly a destination for slaves who migrate willingly from Indonesia,
Nepal, Thailand, Peoples Republic of China (PRC), India, Pakistan, Burma,
Philippines, Vietnam and various other countries in search of employment. Later
they are subsequently subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude in the
domestic, agriculture, industrial and other sectors. Various girls and women are
subjected to commercial sexual exploitation.
Malaysia was degraded from Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 3 according to the US State
Department Trafficking in Persons Report 2014. However, a recent update by the
US State Department states that Malaysia is soon being upgraded from Tier 3 to
Tier 2 Watch List in an upcoming annual report to applaud the efforts taken by
Malaysia to combat human trafficking. Malaysia is making significant efforts to
uplift the situation and is introducing several laws and programs. According to the

Malaysias Anti Trafficking in Persons Act, amended in November 2010,

condemns all forms of human trafficking and state them to be illegal.
Malaysia feels that the human trafficking situation in the world is one of the
biggest concerns for modern slavery and its contemporary forms. It needs to be
stopped with rigorous regulation and punishment for all those who indulge in such
inhumane practices. Child labour is also a cause of worry as children are the future
of the world and keeping them safe and sound is important. In the same almost all
the aspects of modern day slavery require equal attention as each of them are
interrelated and will eventually affect the world population.
Malaysia would like to extend its support in fighting contemporary forms of
slavery in newly industrialized societies. It would like to urge all fellow countries
to come together and reach to a fruitful solution of this ever growing problem.