GUIDANCE NOTE on preventing and combatting trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation

Government, reports

At its 35th meeting in July 2019, GRETA decided to set up an ad hoc working group on strength- ening action to combat trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, which drafted a compendium of good practices in the area of combating trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation. On the basis of the compendium, GRETA has adopted this Guidance Note to further strengthen the implementation of the obligation to take measures to prevent and combat trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.

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Strength in numbers: case studies from Southeast Asia

NGO, reports

The case studies in this report document the experiences of anti-trafficking organizations that work on the frontlines in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam and illustrate Freedom Collaborative’s impact on their activities. The four partners featured were chosen as inspiring examples of organizations that provide critical services directly to vulnerable communities, and also for their efforts in promoting the case for collaborating with other groups.

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Australia’s National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020–25

Government, reports

The National Action Plan sets the strategic direction of our work to combat modern slavery in Australia over the next five years. Modern slavery is a devastating crime that exploits the most vulnerable in our communities. It is a crime that sees women, men and children deprived of their freedom and robbed of their rights. Modern slavery also taints the global supply chains of the goods and services we purchase everyday. The United Nations estimates that over 40 million people are trapped in modern slavery, including 16 million in private sector supply chains. Australia is not immune. There were an estimated 1,900 victims and survivors of modern slavery between 2015 and 2017 alone, with 83 per cent being women and girls. Modern slavery has no place in our society. This is why we have been relentless in our opposition to these grave violations of human rights through implementing a strong program of initiatives to combat modern slavery in Australia and abroad.

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Truckers Against Trafficking Training Video

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Truckers Against Trafficking engages the trucking industry in the fight against child sex trafficking and exploitation. This initiative exists to inspire and enlist the over 3 million US truckers to become watchmen/woman for trafficked children along the US highways and truck stops. The media is paired with TAT training materials and wallet cards for the truckers. The media is featured by trucking companies, safety directors, at driving schools, trucking shows and expos, etc.

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Resisting Modern Slavery in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan: Reflections from a grassroots network on their work–and why they shouldn’t be doing it in the first place

Blog

Since August 2021, the Afghan Solidarity Coalition (ASC)–a loose network of universities, activists, and students in London–has been advocating for and supporting Afghans left behind in Afghanistan. These Afghans are at risk of being murdered by the Taliban as a result of their affilitation with Western organizations; however, Western governments have reneged on their promise and moral obligation to evacuate these allies. In many cases, these Afghans–and in particular women–are now experiencing a form of slavery at the hands of the Taliban: they have been deprived of their freedom of speech, freedom of movement, right to education, and right to envision and pursue the future they want for themselves and their families. This post comprises a series of reflections from a group of students within ASC on their work supporting Afghan women human rights activists. The students consider the impact of their grassroots work within the broader political context surrounding Afghanistan, the horrific stories they encountered during the course of their work, and the inevitable power dynamics that shape the contours of their experiences.

How It Feels To Be An Afghan Woman

Blog

Like the vast majority of Afghan women, I have struggled throughout my career to overcome a deeply entrenched patriarchy, upheld by men, that considers women to be inferior. For years, I fought to defend the rights of vulnerable women—as well as my own right to the opportunities and recognition that men around me were quickly afforded. When the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021, all the progress made by myself and other Afghan women towards equitable social, political, and economic participation in our society disappeared. I had received threats before due to my work defending the rights of Afghan women, but with the Taliban in charge, I feared for my life. My family and I went into hiding, and later fled to Pakistan. We are safe, but there is no future here for my children. My entire life, I have defended and advocated for the rights of Afghan women, even when others have looked away. Now, the only choice I can make is to continue fighting.

Modern Slavery and Plastic Straws

Blog

Slavery has had a significant impact on the environment throughout history. Despite this, links between modern slavery and environmental destruction have received limited attention. Rather, modern slavery and environment exist in distinct, albeit well-established realms. Such distinction and lack of interconnectivity are arguably unhelpful in seeking to mobilise positive action in the fight against slavery. In sharing our research on consumer perspectives of modern slavery, a question often asked has been; if consumers can get behind rejection of plastic straws why not modern slavery?

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Chosen (Trailer, 2:26)

docstrailers

“Chosen,” a 20-minute film, tells the shocking true story of two “all-American” teenage girls deceived into trafficking. Eighteen-year-old Brianna was an honor-roll student and cheerleader and worked at a local café. Thirteen-year-old Lacy was an active member of her youth group, and a volunteer in her community. Both were manipulated. Both were exploited. Both were chosen.

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Why Most Consumers Do Not Walk Their Talk? Neutralising and Legitimising Modern Day Slavery

Blog

In our previous blog we emphasized that if consumers are to play a key role in the fight against modern day slavery, they firstly need to be aware of its scale and nature and secondly, recognize slavery as a morally significant issue. Although this sounds to a certain extent achievable – through appropriately tailored communication and public awareness programmes – we know from previous research that this may still not translate into positive consumer action. The so called “attitude-behaviour” gap (refers to circumstances in which consumers say one thing (e.g. that they care about the environment) but do another (e.g. systematically engaging in environmentally unsustainable behavior). How do we begin to explain this, let alone change it? One key approach that has been previously proposed in consumer research is to explore the excuses or justifications consumers use to normalize inaction even when recognizing its moral severity.

Lessons From Lockdown: Protecting Children From Livestreamed Sexual Exploitation In A Post-Pandemic World

Blog

The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably changed the relationship between societies and the digital world. During this period, we’ve spent more time online: working, socializing, shopping – and, for many, sexually abusing children. As countries emerged from lockdown, it became increasingly clear that digital spaces and internet-connected devices posed growing opportunities for offenders to abuse and exploit children with ease, anonymity, and impunity.

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Born Into Brothels (1:23:20)

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Set in Calcutta’s notorious red-light district, Born Into Brothels explores the lives of its most vulnerable citizens. Directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman, the picture’s eight small subjects shot the still footage themselves. Briski first teaches them how to shoot and edit. The children then put her lessons into practice. They gain confidence as the film proceeds, yet there’s always the threat that any of the girls, especially 14-year-old Suchitra, could be forced to “join the line” (work as a prostitute). For most, it’s only a matter of time.

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Consumers Create the ‘Demand’ in Modern Slavery ‘Supply’ Chains

Blog

To date, efforts to tackle modern slavery have predominantly focused on factories, farming, production, human trafficking, and in some cases, retailers. The focus of this gaze has largely rendered the consumer, like the slaves in these supply chains, as invisible. Yet, consumers are a critical stakeholder in the perpetuation and eradication of modern slavery globally. Why? Because consumers are at the very pointy end of the supply chain—they create the ‘demand’ for which modern slaves are used to ‘supply’.

COVID-19 and Forced Labour

Blog

Northern India has been source of forced migration due to several factors of extreme poverty, floods, less of livelihood options with denial of basic rights. Large number of children, girls and women are trafficked from these source areas to states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Southern India. Majority of population in Northern India is forced to migrate to work in agriculture, brickkilns, tea garden, apparel, embroidery, steel factories and construction work to earn livelihood for their families. Several contractors and traffickers trap them in lieu of advance and debts being taken by them/their family members in their home villages. Heavy interest rate on debts compels them either to become bonded labor; or send their family members to work in different states of India in different industries. These workers face hard time in industries with poor working conditions, less payment of wages and long working hours. Despite these, they work for their families to survive and earn livelihood though hardly they know if contractors/traffickers have sent them money. Although they wanted to return back to their homes somehow, but they were not allowed to go back.

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Terrify No More: Young Girls Held Captive and the Daring Undercover Operation to Win Their Freedom

Books

Out of shocking depravity emerges a story of hope.

In a small village outside Phnom Penh, children as young as five are bought and sold as sex slaves. Day after day their abuse continues, and their hope slips away.

In Terrify No More an international team of investigators goes undercover to infiltrate this ring of brothels and gather evidence needed to free these girls. Meanwhile, skilled legal minds race the clock, working at the highest levels of U.S. and foreign governments to bring the perpetrators to justice. Headed up by former U.N. war-crimes investigator, Gary Haugen, the team perseveres against impossible obstacles—police corruption, death threats, and mission-thwarting tip-off – in a mission focused on bringing freedom to the victims.

Design for Freedom

NGO, reports

Global laws forbid the use of slave labor in the built environment, yet our buildings, and the materials that go into our buildings, are heavily reliant on slave labor. Most industry professionals are familiar with the once legal transatlantic slave trade of the previous centuries. Though slavery is now illegal in every country, it persists in various forms, from human trafficking to forced labor. This report defines aspects of modern slavery and the scope of the problem, and presents compelling reasons why we should care about the systemic use of forced labor in the building materials supply chain, including growing legal and reputational risks.

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“Innovative economic project provides exit opportunities for women exploited by the commercial sex industry”

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Sanitary measures, social distancing, global shutdowns, and month-long quarantines have been the reality for the entire world due to COVID-19. In México City, the red-light districts were shut down, hotels closed, and the majority of women working in the sex industry left without income and housing. El Pozo de Vida (EPDV), a nonprofit based out of México City that works to eradicate human trafficking and exploitation, saw a window of opportunity to encourage these women to develop new skills and seek economic alternatives outside of prostitution.

The Role of Plea Bargaining in Human Trafficking Cases

Blog

Perpetrators of human trafficking are statistically likely to enjoy impunity for their crimes. What may surprise many outside the legal field is that even where human traffickers are captured and prosecuted, the courtroom is unlikely to configure in the process at all. This is attributable to what can broadly be termed as “plea bargaining”. A greater recognition of plea bargaining in human trafficking cases as a growing international norm is sorely needed. Current practice suggests that the use of plea bargaining is usually dictated not by any balancing of interests, but rather by limitations in resources.