UN anti-slavery fund appeals for support

The UN voluntary fund on contemporary forms of slavery is appealing for at least US $245,000 to assist non-governmental organizations working against slavery, the fund reported. Some of the money would enable anti-slavery NGOs to take part in the UN Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. The requested funds would also be used to provide humanitarian, legal and financial aid to individual victims of slavery. Although banned by law throughout the world, slavery still exists in some countries. These include Mauritania, whose government was urged last week by Amnesty International to take "practical steps" to end the practice which persists despite its legal abolition 20 years ago. The UN fund, established by the General Assembly in 1991, helps NGOs to attend meetings of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. The working group was set up in 1988 as part of the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It provides a forum for global efforts against slavery, the slave trade and slavery-like practices. The fund is administered by the UN Secretary-General, with the advice of the board of trustees. "At its 7th session, in January 2002, the board of trustees made recommendations for travel and project grants totaling $136,000 to be disbursed in 2002," according to information posted on the OHCHR's website. "Taking into consideration the requests received in 2002 ... the fund would need $300,000 before its 8th session in January 2003." As at 31 October, the fund had only $55,000. More information