Decision On Slavery - Legal Decree

This document is the official declaration of the Interplanetary Peace Alliance regarding their decision on slavery. With this document, the IPA outlawed slavery in all forms and instituted strict rules regarding planets that did not conform to the ruling.

Today, we are free. Today, we are safe. Today, we are accepted. Today, is the end of despair. Today is the start of new life.

— From a short story

Purpose

The purpose of this document was to declare the ruling made by the IPA Senate about slavery as well as list the clauses and agreements about what constituted slavery and how it was to be dealt with. The document was manufactured in various mediums to reach as many people as possible.

Background

In 22 APC, the IPA summoned all the leaders of the alliance to Zenricho for a secret meeting and vote. No details were allowed out until a decision was reached. The Senate went so far as to ban the voters from leaving and have food delivered. After three days of debates, arguments, and votes, a decision was reached and this document was drafted before the declaration was made: slavery in all forms was illegal within the IPA.

Public Reaction

by Lilliana Casper

This document and the decision revealed in it were met with mixed opinions. For most of the galaxy, it meant that a powerful organization—and the majority of a powerful organization—recognized the evil in slavery and wanted to do something about it. It meant equality, unity, safety, and happiness. It meant that from now on, there was a place that would defend the weak and oppressed.
Some planets in the IPA, however, saw the decision as proof that the IPA was soft and unfit to rule the galaxy. They believed the declaration to be the end of their easy lifestyles. These eight planets chose to leave. Four of them would go on to abolish slavery

in just a hundred years. Three of those eventually rejoined the IPA. And despite the other four never relenting, the IPA still took the victory. Within a year of the declaration, almost thirty planets chose to join the alliance, far outnumbering those that left.

Type

Decree, Governmental

Medium

Digital Recording, Text

Authoring Date

July 12, 22 APC

Location

Zenricho

Signatories (Organizations)

• The Interplanetary Peace Alliance

What Changed?

In the years just after the decree, many changes occurred. Eight planets left the IPA to preserve slavery on their planets, while fourteen with slavery remained in the alliance ended their practice of it, and followed the laws instituted by the document. New bureaus were set up within the IPA to deal with newly freed slaves as well as enforce the declaration. Planets across the galaxy had now solidified their opinions on this organization, with most choosing to join or ally with it.
A new holiday began because of the declaration. Free Day, celebrated on July 12th, commemorates the day the IPA took a stand against slavery. The first gatherings were small, but it is now one of the galaxy's greatest celebrations. Although the IPA's decision did not remove slavery completely, it showed that the majority of the galaxy knew it was wrong and would do anything they could to end it.

Well, of course, it didn't end just like that! But that wasn't the point. The point was that now there was a chance for everyone to be free. And even a chance was enough.