An international conference is to be held on all aspects of child slavery at the Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery and Emancipation (WISE), University of Hull, UK in association with AntiSlavery International, Gilder Lehrman Center, Yale University and Free the Slaves. This is a further call for papers and the registration form. Those who have already indicated that they wish to present papers need not duplicate their application but it is important that all those wishing to attend now formally register on the attached form: space is limited and we anticipate that we will close bookings well before the conference date.
Background
Child slavery is now becoming a focus of considerable international concern. Despite the creation during the late 20th century of a series of Conventions and Protocols, banning the use of children in trafficking and forced labour and despite more wide-ranging international legislation defining the Rights of the Child, the extent and variety of forms of child slavery appears to be growing worldwide. The ILO – which marks the 10th anniversary of its Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention in 2009 - estimates that there may be 218 million children trapped in child labour worldwide of whom 126 million children were engaged in hazardous work. Many are in situations of modern slavery, working in clothing and shoe sweatshops, as child soldiers, in agriculture, brickmaking, fishing, domestic service, or as child sex workers.
This conference will examine all these forms of child slavery and will be focused in particular on the need for further political and policy action, as well as the further development of services to support and rehabilitate children who are freed from slavery.
Speakers
Speakers from international organisations, policy contexts and campaigning and NGO backgrounds across the world will set the scene for discussions and there will be a series of workshops at which a range of presentations will be made. Those attending will be given a copy of the Special Issue of the journal Children and Society on child slavery worldwide, edited by Professor Gary Craig, and due to be published in the Spring of 2008. The conference will be conducted in the English language.
Call for papers
Those interested in giving a paper or making a presentation in a workshop should indicate when writing to us (in no more than fifty words) what the focus of their presentation will be. A preliminary programme is detailed below, which may be subject to revision.
All events will take place in or around the WISE building in the centre of Hull. The total attendance will be limited to around 80-90 people at most and the three parallel workshop sessions will (unless demand is particularly high) hear two papers or presentations in each workshop (at 25 mins. each) with 25 mins. for discussion. There will thus be space for at least 24 presentations but possibly more.
Accommodation
AccommodationPlease note that all delegates are responsible for booking their own accommodation. Please contact Hull Conference Bureau by email mailto:conference.bureau@vhey.co.uk or call 00 44 (0)1482 486500.
Disabled access
WISE has good disabled access and a lift to each floor in the main building.
Payment
The cost of the conference will include papers, refreshments, lunch on each day and a conference dinner on the first evening. The fees are £135 for larger and statutory organisations and £95 for smaller organisations and community groups. There are 10 bursaries of £50 available for low income and smaller organisations. Please indicate if you would like to be considered for a bursary when registering.
Please note that payment must be received by October 31st 2008 for your place to be confirmed. We accept cheques made payable to University of Hull or Mastercard and Visa credit cards.
As space will be at a premium we will consider applications to attend one day only on the basis that this will not disadvantage those wishing to attend for both days. Day rates would be: Thursday fees and dinner = £100, Thursday fees only = £75/£55, Friday fees = £75/£55.
Dinner
If you do not wish to attend the dinner, a reduction of £25 will be made to the conference fee. You may bring a guest along at an additional cost of £30. Please indicate this on the booking form.
Bookstall
A range of bookstalls will be available. If you wish to sell books or display leaflets at the conference, please contact us. We can insert flyers in the conference delegate packs at £60 per flyer; and a book display table costs £120.
Fringe discussions
There are a number of small rooms in WISE which can be set aside for fringe discussions. If you would like to use one of these, please let us know when and for how many people.