In 2007 there will be celebration and commemoration of the historic moment when the British government formally declared that slavery was wrong. The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed by the British Parliament on March 25, 1807.

Of course, this wasn't the end of the Atlantic slave trade. The 1807 Act was specifically aimed at making it illegal for the British to kidnap and transport people from Africa and sell them in another continent. Such huge profits were reaped from the business, that slavery continued barely interrupted. The only change on the seas was that the British Navy was now responsible for searching and arresting ships that carried 'human cargo'. If a British ship was caught carrying people in chains, the 1807 Act stated that the owner of the ship would be fined £100 for each 'slave' on board.

However, the Atlantic is a vast ocean, many countries were involved in the slave trade, and the British had no rule over other countries. The British Navy certainly didn't have enough ships to counter every slave ship on the sea and how would they recognise a British ship if it managed to hoist any other flag of its choice? The technology of private shipbuilding often superseded the British Navy ships; many of the slave ships could out-manoeuvre and out-run them. Horrifically, if a slave ship were caught, the captain would rather throw all his captives over-board to drown before having to pay the £100 fine for each person.

Not until 1827 did Parliament declare that slavery was an act of piracy and was punishable by death. Not until August 23, 1833, did the Slavery Abolition Act outlaw slavery throughout the British colonies.

So, we can celebrate an ethical victory, that a majority number of members in parliament were making the public declaration that the business of trading humans was wrong, but for the victims of the business there was little cause for celebration. Many people joined in the fight against slavery, including those forced into slavery, who eventually won their own freedom, despite many of their names being unknown. The names we know in our Parliament bore no such horror, but they did make an ethical stand and wisely used their influence to bring about a moral change. Even for men in their position, the fight to end slavery was a long, hard battle, because they threatened the foundations of so much wealth. We can remember and learn from famous names such as William Wilberforce, Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharp, Joseph Sturge and many other campaigners who have fought for human rights.

On 25th March 2007, let us celebrate all people who dedicate their lives to the fight to ensure human rights and equality for all.

Then, let us think about what we should do.

Helen Roach