Office of the Prime Minister
"Libertate Unanimus"
Pursuant to General Assembly Resolution #23, 'Ban on Slavery and Trafficking', the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss considers slavery, forced labour and human trafficking (collectively referred to as 'servitude') to be a violation of basic sentient rights. Servitude is prohibited in the Dutch Democratic Republic and all constituent nations of the Knootian Federation. Consequently:
- Knootian law does not recognise contracts or conditions enforcing servitude.
- Knootoss embargoes goods produced, in whole or in part, through servitude.
- Knootian citizens are prohibited from pursuing contracts with foreign nationals, whenever they are facilitated by the use of slavery, forced labour or human trafficking.
- Knootoss accords full and permanent refugee status to all persons fleeing servitude.
Further, the government of Knootoss declares that no Knootian citizen may be rendered into servitude. This right to liberty is absolute and universal in its jurisdiction, and is to be enjoyed by all Knootian citizens, wherever they may travel or reside, and whatever local laws or customs may otherwise apply. The government of Knootoss prohibits all foreign powers from depriving Knootian Citizens of this right, or assisting in its deprivation, even as the result of judicial proceedings. This prohibition will be enforced by all possible means, regardless of jurisdiction or the potential for armed warfare.
We fully expect and demand that nations which permit the practice of slavery will take note of this declaration, and comply with its provisions.
Knootoss maintains an armed neutrality with regards to the 'liberation wars' that are currently being waged. Knootoss reserves the right to defend itself against incursions from all parties, and to intervene if the provisions of this declaration are being violated.
After long negotiations, this statement was followed up by a Western Atlantic statement against slavery:
Abt Republic
Holy Empire of Excalbia
Eternal Republic of Xirnium
Caldan Union of the Resurgent Dream
Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss
Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria
Dominion of Upper Virginia
Confederation of Sovereign States
United States of Laneria
Republic of Nova Nederlandia
We, the Powers of the Western Atlantic, united fraternally in our common adherence to the ideals of personal freedom and liberty and the inalienability of those sacred rights, impassioned by our desire to banish slavery, exploitation and human trafficking, hereby issue the following declaration to all nations, organisations and individuals of the world:
That no citizen of a Western Atlantic nation may be rendered into servitude anywhere and by anyone.
That the right to personal liberty is absolute and universal in its jurisdiction, and is to be enjoyed by all Western Atlantic citizens, wherever they may travel or reside, and whatever local laws or customs may otherwise apply.
That the nations of the Western Atlantic shall stand united against all foreign powers who seek to deprive Western Atlantic citizens of the inalienable right, or to assist in its deprivation, even as the result of judicial proceedings.
That the nations of the Western Atlantic will enforce the present declarations by all possible and available means, regardless of jurisdiction. Our resolve shall in no case be dented or stalled even by the potential for armed warfare.
That no servitude shall be tolerated in the Western Atlantic and that all those who engage in slavery, exploitation and human trafficking shall be punished with the strictest accordance to law. This interdiction is complete and all-encompassing and extends to practices of slavery carried out by foreign nationals, against foreign nationals, in favour of foreign nationals. Use of the waters of the Western Atlantic for transit of persons indented into servitude, including the high seas, shall not be tolerated.
We, the Powers of the Western Atlantic, hereby state our infinite resolve to stand by the ideals and points of the present declaration, no matter the challenges that lie ahead or may be posed to us by those who seek to pursue their inhuman ways.
