4 Jun 2022

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The Justification of the Struggle against the Slave Trade in International Law

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Slavery in International law is defined by several treaties, declarations and conventions. The justification against slave trade is non-derogable under the comprehensive international and regional human rights treaties, incorporating the international covenant on civil and political rights, the American Convention of Human Rights, and the European convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Smith (2018) mentioned that i t is within the jurisdiction of the international law to use the confines enshrined in its constitution to give justice to humans. Several reasons account for the struggle against the slave trade in international law. That is more understood through the lens of a humanitarian and economic perspective. Slave trade caused a lot of ills to the society especially the Blacks. Its abolition was great liberation to many against such realms of dictatorship and authoritarian rule. 

According to Bederman and Keitner (2016), o ne of the principal justifications was due to the resistance by the enslaved persons. Slave trade subjects had resisted the trade since its inception. However, during French revolution fresh ideas enshrining liberty and equality and that motivated persons that were seeking to stop the slave trade ( Thomas, 2015) . A keynote example is the Toussaint L'Ouverture that led a slave revolt successfully in Haiti. Other prime trade revolts ensured, for instance, Barbados in 1816, Jamaica in 1831-1832, and Demerara in 1822. Bederman and Keitner (2016) further argued that s uch violent trade revolts hugely reduced profitability and also threatened peaceful living in the regions. That, in turn, has produced a robust indication that irrespective of the political opinion, the enslaved and weak majority were no longer going to tolerate continued enslavement ( Du Bois, 2014) . Arguably, Garelli and Tazzioli (2017) noted that such kinds of revolts were a significant shock to the British state and as such, made them realize that continued slavery in West Indies was very expensive. In regions, for example, Jamaica, most terrified owners of plantations were quick to give to into abolition of slave trade than the widespread war. Resistance to Slave trade in these regions was a significant threat to peace to both the colonial masters and the enslaved. That is much they could do to show their displeasure with the barbaric and inhuman use of forced labor ( Garelli & Tazzioli, 2017) . The principal remedy for this menace was the abolition of the trade in totality. International law remains binding to everyone and thus stamping its authority in such a case was of great importance. The acts were against the fundamental human rights ( Smith, 2018)

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Du Bois (2014) sensational mentioned that a rise of humanitarians in Europe for instance scholars and Christians condemned the slave trade acts on moral grounds. The missioners wanted a viable space to spread Christianity and thus had to advocate for stopping of the slave trade. Christianity is premised on actions that are Christ-like. It intends to spread love and not hate. It serves to advocate for the goodness that comes with persons that live in accordance with kingdom principles. Religion came as a sigh of relief to people and gave comfort and encouragement ( Toledano, 2014). Such factors mounted pressure that could significantly justify the stop to the slave trade. Their formation of humanitarian organizations and movements in England and other regions in the world were premised on terminating all kinds of cruelty. Such acts of cruelty, for instance, child labor, flogging of soldiers and slave were inhuman and thus had to be fought by all means ( Du Bois, 2014) . Interest groups also joined the humanitarian teams, and it began a collaborative agenda to stop the barbaric approach in the slave trade. The law had to be formulated to protect the interest of the vast majority on humanitarian ground ( Martineau, 2016)

Rothwell and Stephens (2016) argued that Industrialization in Britain was one the reasons for the justification for the struggle against the slave trade. That prompted broad aspects of specialization and division of labor. The British council was more cunning in its approach to industrialization. Their primary argument was the abolition was to stop Africans from going to Europe and be left in Africa ( Leipziger, 2017) . That was informed by the fact that Africa was to be a source of raw materials for their industrial products. Also, Africa was a vibrant market for their manufactured and industrial goods and further, a region for the investment of the surplus capital at their disposal. Through the lens of international, the abolition was done to allow room for growth and to present equal treatment to all persons without infringing their rights. 

Bederman and Keitner, (2016) reiterated that the slave trade had to be abolished for the economy to proportionately grow. The major English cities that vehemently engaged in slavery were namely Bristol, London, and Liverpool started developing economic interests in the Caribbean other sugar. Particular interests were also growing such as cotton in the United States of America and sugar that was situated at the beetroot from Europe. That caused the period of depression in agriculture in West India during the 19th century ( Shelton, 2015) . The British government did earn more from taxes and customs on imported cotton and on the export of manufactured items. The value of gains from this line of business was far much high than the income from the slave trade. Plus, the British Empire had started to grow in different parts of the world due to the fresh wealthy and influential persons that had emerged and that include the merchants and industrialists. They owned the large industries that were constructed during the periods of industrial revolution in the 19th century. Prior to this specific revolution, the influential and affluent individuals were the owners of plantations ( Du Bois, 2014) . The industrialists possessed minimal care and attention on slave trade and slavery as there were more attractive and profitable business opportunities in India. The trade merchants would do the importation of goods and food, for instance, tea, cotton and clothes from India and sell in the ready market, England. The merchants and industrialists that were involved in the slave trade with India resented slavery and slave trade since the West Indian planters had the protection advantage from competitors due to the navigation acts that prohibited competing nations from doing business in their areas of operation. The scenario was a show of the growing economic standards and a shift from the traditional ways of doing things ( Rothwell & Stephens, 2016). People started appreciating the new ways of doing business as opposed to the slave trade tactics. A ban on slave trade by the international community positively influenced the ideals of innovation and technology. Industrialization overtook the world, and the universe became a better place. The development of new ways of doing agriculture was further influential to the stop in the slave trade ( Shelton, 2015) 

A stop of the slave trade was vital in furthering and protection the interest of some nations, especially in Britain. For example, the British planters desired a stop to slave trade to avert much competition from the European farmers ( Toledano, 2014) . That was due to the fact that other ranchers were doing the production of cheap sugar, and thus led to the accumulation of British sugar, and therefore, they want to stop overproduction. National interests are crucial considerations especially with issues to do with economic empowerment. Nations also needed to protect their image from acts of blackmail by other countries as a result of their heinous actions associated with the slave trade ( Leipziger, 2017)

People were considerably rising with scientific ideologies and logic that were crucial for growth. The coming up of men, for instance, Adam Smith was pivotal. According to Rothwell and Stephens (2016), h e did challenge the economic arguments which were founded on slave trade and production. He convincingly argued that hired labor was far much productive and cheaper in comparison than the slave labor. That became an eye opener to a majority of the businessmen, and they bought the idea. In the same regard, Rousseau did spread the message of equality and personality liberty of all men ( Rothwell & Stephens, 2016) . That touched vast population and thumped up the humanitarian calls that were going on during those periods. Slowly, profits in slave trade had gone low and at the same time had led to overpopulation in regions like Europe ( Toledano, 2014) . Particular influential abolitionists, for instance, William Wilberforce requested the British government to do its legislation against the slave trade in her colonies. That received major support from across various members of the legislative assembly. On the same breath, Garelli and Tazzioli (2017) confirmed that the ship owners associations terminated transporting slaves from Africa to Europe and that much resulted in a decline in the slave trade. They instead, started the transportation of raw materials directly from America and Africa. 

References 

Bederman, D., & Keitner, C. (2016).  International law frameworks . West Academic. 

Du Bois, W. E. B. (2014).  The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade to the United States of America . Oxford University Press. 

Garelli, G., & Tazzioli, M. (2017). The humanitarian war against migrant smugglers at sea.  Antipode

Leipziger, D. (2017).  The corporate responsibility code book . Routledge. 

Martineau, A. C. (2016). Georges Scelle’s Study of the Slave Trade: French Solidarism Revisited.  European Journal of International Law 27 (4), 1131-1151. 

Rothwell, D. R., & Stephens, T. (2016).  The international law of the sea . Bloomsbury Publishing. 

Shelton, D. (2015).  Remedies in international human rights law . Oxford University Press, USA. 

Smith, R. (2018).  International Human Rights Law . Oxford University Press. 

Thomas, H. (2015). Impact of the Slave Trade.  American Immigration: An Encyclopedia of Political, Social, and Cultural Change , 127. 

Toledano, E. R. (2014).  The Ottoman Slave Trade and Its Suppression: 1840-1890 . Princeton University Press. 

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