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Article 4: Prohibition on Slavery and Forced Labour
1. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
2. No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
3. For the purpose of this Article the term 'forced or compulsory labour' shall not include:
(a) any work required to be done in the ordinary course of detention imposed according to the provisions of Article 5 of the Convention or during conditional release from such detention;
(b) any service of a military character or, in the case of conscientious objectors in countries where they are recognised, service exacted instead of compulsory military service;
(c) any service exacted in case of an emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;
(d) any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations.
Article 4 is a limited right. It bans slavery absolutely and limits the circumstances in which someone can be forced to work. It is unlikely to have much, if any, effect on British law.
Attempts have been made to argue that military service, requirement to do voluntary work as part of your professional training, and compulsory jury service breached Article 4. The European Court of Human Rights rejected all such arguments.
2. No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
3. For the purpose of this Article the term 'forced or compulsory labour' shall not include:
(a) any work required to be done in the ordinary course of detention imposed according to the provisions of Article 5 of the Convention or during conditional release from such detention;
(b) any service of a military character or, in the case of conscientious objectors in countries where they are recognised, service exacted instead of compulsory military service;
(c) any service exacted in case of an emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;
(d) any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations.
Article 4 is a limited right. It bans slavery absolutely and limits the circumstances in which someone can be forced to work. It is unlikely to have much, if any, effect on British law.
Attempts have been made to argue that military service, requirement to do voluntary work as part of your professional training, and compulsory jury service breached Article 4. The European Court of Human Rights rejected all such arguments.
