Modern slavery

Modern slavery is a deeply concerning issue that directly contradicts the principles and objectives of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It encompasses a range of exploitative practices including forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking. These practices undermine human rights, perpetuate inequality, and hinder social and economic development.

SDG 8, in particular, which promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, is intrinsically linked to the issue of modern slavery. The target 8.7 specifically calls for immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

Also, SDG 5, which advocates for gender equality, plays a crucial role in combating modern slavery. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry and 58% in other sectors, according to the International Labour Organization. Addressing gender inequality and empowering women and girls can help reduce their vulnerability to exploitation.

The issue of modern slavery also connects with SDG 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions. Strengthening institutions, improving access to justice, and creating effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels are fundamental to ending modern slavery. This includes creating legal frameworks that criminalize all forms of exploitation and strengthening law enforcement responses to these crimes.

Combating modern slavery is not only a matter of human rights but also crucial to achieving sustainable development. The fight against modern slavery requires concerted effort at all levels – from governments and international organizations, through to businesses and civil society. It involves promoting decent work, advocating gender equality, strengthening institutions, and ensuring that no one is left behind – a commitment at the heart of the SDGs.

Anti Slavery Day
Modern slavery risks have risen across the world over the last year, including in 20 of the 28 member states of the EU. On Anti-Slavery Day, this blog looks at the increased risks and numbers of victims of forced labour in supply chains, and how to mitigate these risks contributing to goal 8 (decent work and economic growth).
The global electronics industry is one of the largest industrial sectors in the global economy, generating more revenue than any other goods-producing sector. This report examines the supply chain risks of forced labour across the industry, and manufacturing and mining in two key countries: Malaysia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It includes an analysis of top electronics brands. This report highlights the challenges in advancing target SDG 8.7 to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking.

Children and Extreme Violence, United Nations University, New York, October 2017. 

Contributing to SDGs 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), the UN collaborated with academics in communications and psychology; practitioners in brand creation, marketing, and cause campaigns; social media experts and practitioners and entertainment content creators to gain a deeper understanding of recruitment typologies, messaging and intergroup competition involving children in the Islamic State.
Contributing to SDGs 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), the UN collaborated with scholars and practitioners from a range of fields to explore opportunities to prevent children entering violent non-state armed groups.
Large employers in the UK with a financial year running from April to March should be gearing up to publish their second annual modern slavery statement by the end of September 2017. Modern slavery statements support SDG 8.7 to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking.
Businesses with a year-end of 31 March 2016 were the first ones required to publish their modern slavery and human trafficking statements to comply with the UK Modern Slavery Act. One year later, several reports have measured and scrutinised the quality of businesses' modern slavery statements. SDG target 8.7 is to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
Four years after the Rana Plaza factory collapse, this article gives insight into the modern slavery risks in the garment industry, as well as 6 steps for companies to demonstrate their commitment to transparency. This is in line with SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth, in particular SDG target 8.7 which is to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of all forms of child labour.
Slave Free Seas charitable trust New Zealand logo

LexisNexis New Zealand and the Slave Free Seas Charitable Trust have created a free legal resource to assist advocates for victims of human trafficking, comprising practical information on advocacy and policy change. This guidance is essential for target 8.7 and the eradication of forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking, as well as SDG 16.3 and access to justice.

This article published on International Women's Day 2017, shines a light on the issue of forced labour, as 55% of people who are estimated to be in forced labour are women and girls. It also discusses modern slavery legislation changes and discussions in France and Australia. This legislation could contribute to the goal of SDG target 8.7 which is to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
This article provides insight into an international company that is dealing with human rights issues in its supply chain from the past, in particular modern slavery, but which in recent years has been one of the early adopters of ongoing human rights due diligence. This is in line with the goal of SDG target 8.7 which is to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.

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