Freedom petition on way to Home Office >vid
HOME Secretary Alan Johnson said the Wilberforce Petition has helped to "redouble the efforts" of the Government to fight modern- day slavery.
The Hull West and Hessle MP accepted the petition on behalf of the Home Office, at the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Emancipation and Slavery (Wise).
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rom left, Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP, Deputy Lord Mayor of Hull Councillor David Gemmell and University of Hull vice-chancellor Prof Calie Pistorius during the handover of the petition
Mr Johnson said he had been humbled by the huge response to the campaign against slavery, which has attracted 100,000 signatures since it began in Hull, in September 2006.
As reported, the 100,000th name was signed on the 250th birthday of abolitionist and Hull MP William Wilberforce, earlier this month.
Mr Johnson said: "This is terrific. The petition draws attention to the same issues that Wilberforce fought against.
"Slavery still exists in different forms, in people trafficking for prostitution and in child slavery.
"This petition has reminded us we must redouble our efforts to stop it."
Mr Johnson said the petition was more than just names on paper and had made a real impact on Government policy, including a new strategy to tackle human trafficking, which will be published next month.
The petition also helped the abolition of slavery be reintroduced into the national curriculum.
Started by the Mail, Anti-Slavery International and Wise, which is part of the University of Hull, and Hull City Council, the petition has circled the globe.
Scores of notable figures have signed their name to it, including Desmond Tutu, Jesse Jackson and Gordon Brown.
Mitch Upfold, of Hull City Council, who played a major role in the petition, said: "Slavery is not unfinished business, and I think the city can now say it has done its best to fight it.
"What is important now is that the Government takes this issue forward – this is what the petition was always about."
There are about 12.3 million people still enslaved across the world. Shockingly, slavery even exists in the UK, and at this very moment an estimated 5,000 are trapped in forced prostitution or working without pay in our farms, factories and even homes.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Hull David Gemmell, who handed the petition over the Mr Johnson, said: "This is a weapon, started in Hull, that the politicians of all nations can use to tackle modern-day slavery."
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by Norman, Hull
Monday, September 28 2009, 3:08PM
“Alan Johnson et al, should concentrate on ALL types of freedom. Yet he is prepared to possibly deny freedom to some poor Autistic sufferer by deporting him to the States and a prison sentence. Hypocrites! "Look at me again, Im in the news,aren't I good???.”
by Reg, Hessle
Sunday, September 27 2009, 3:54PM
“So Alan Johnson does it again. Some one else does the work and he jumps in for the credit. When was the last time he campaigned on an issue from the start? Shouldn't he be helping local pensioners? (oh hang on, it was Mr Johnson who taxed the money in pensions which has resulted in the short fall). Alan the time has come for you to go. You are a has been.”
by mr Her, hull
Sunday, September 27 2009, 9:19AM
“Then DONT vote lib Dems! Get Minns out (The man who likes men) & Alan J isnt is about time you retired & let younger folk in.? thats the issue with this country & MP's there too old stuck in old ways! let some youth in the system!”
by Charles, Cott
Saturday, September 26 2009, 10:37PM
“And the government will say what exactly? That they favour slavery? It's a bit like asking when did you last beat your wife?”
by Best of a bad bunch, ull
Saturday, September 26 2009, 9:15PM
“waste of money - only people intrested are tree huggers and the mind departed libs who run HCC!”