Slavery and Its Obligations Erga Omnes

Abstract

This study explores the obligations of international law as they relate to slavery. In so doing, it recognises that recent developments of the law of slavery has brought to life existing treaty and customary international law obligations. The totality of these obligations is considered, with special emphasis given to slavery’s obligations erga omnes. That emphasis reveals both the failure of nearly half of all States to effectively incorporate the prohibition of slavery into their domestic legal order; and the underlying communal interest which necessitates all States cooperate in addressing wholesale reintroduction of the slave trade by Daesh / ISIS.