Many people may think of slavery as a thing of the past, but unfortunately they couldn’t be more wrong. The realities of modern day slavery are not always visible in our direct surroundings or social circles, however it still runs deep in communities all around the world.
Whilst the transatlantic slave trade was outlawed in 1807 and slavery is prohibited internationally by Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are still an estimated 12.3 million people across the world in slavery today, forced to work for little or no pay.
It is thought that the buying, selling and exploitation of people is
the fastest growing crime in the world today. Long supply chains in
today’s globalised economy create spaces of opportunity for traffickers
to exploit the most vulnerable.
Thousands of people in the UK alone are currently living as slaves. This means they can’t exercise personal freedom and they are being forced to work against their will.
Created by Anthony Steen CBE, then MP for Totnes, now Chair of the Human Trafficking
Foundation, through a Private
Members’ Bill in December 2009.The
Bill passed through all its stages in the House of Commons and the
House of Lords quickly and gained Royal Assent on 8 April 2010, becoming
law as the Anti-Slavery Day Act 2010.
In July that year, the Prime Minister, David Cameron MP, announced that
Anti-Slavery Day would fall on 18 October every year. This date
coincides with the European Union’s Anti-Trafficking Day. Since then, it remains a firm date in
the calendar for human rights defenders, charities, civil society and
government alike and is often marked with events about combatting modern
slavery together.
Anti-Slavery Day was introduced with three aims. Firstly, to “acknowledge that millions of men,
women and children continue to be victims of slavery, depriving them of
basic human dignity and freedom.” To “raise awareness amongst young
people and others of the dangers and consequences of slavery, human
trafficking and exploitation and encourage them to be proactive in the
fight against it.” And finally, “draw attention to the progress made by
government and those working to combat all forms of slavery, human
trafficking and exploitation, and (to) what more needs to be done.”
Anti-Slavery Day serves as a reminder to people across the UK that
despite the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, slavery which is supposed to be illegal in every country on the planet, it is still a thriving industry and rife
in modern society. People are trafficked to, from and within the UK for
sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, criminal
exploitation, bonded labour and even organ trafficking.
It is a global
problem that can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender and
ethnicity.Poverty, limited opportunities at home, lack of education, unstable
social and political conditions and economic imbalances are just some of
the key drivers that contribute to someone’s vulnerability in becoming a
victim of modern slavery.
Identifying the root causes behind slavery helps us to make changes
that will prevent vulnerable people from being targeted and exploited,
while outreach programs and support systems provide victims of slavery
with an opportunity to escape their situation and build a sustainable
future.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduced by Theresa May [former UK
Prime Minister] brought existing offences into one law and created new
duties and powers to protect victims and prosecute offenders of modern
slavery.
Victims of slavery and trafficking who have been forced to break the
law were protected under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and law courts were
granted the power to hand down a maximum life sentence for offenders or
to place restrictions on people they believe may commit a human
trafficking or slavery offence.
Businesses with an annual turnover of at least £36 million were also
required to publish an annual statement setting out the steps they have
taken to prevent modern slavery within their supply chains. This can
include information about modern slavery policies and due diligence
processes which includes slavery, forced labour and human trafficking.
Since the new law was introduced there has been a considerable
increase in tackling modern slavery offences at every stage; the police
are referring more cases to be prosecuted, the Crown Prosecution Service
is making more decisions to charge and overall, there are more
convictions.
Modern slavery is a serious and often hidden
crime which continues to affect people across the UK and the threat has
been heavily impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Labour
exploitation saw a proportion of the threat being displaced following
the closing of public-facing businesses such as nail bars, car washes
and restaurants. In response, offenders sought to adopt the non-employer
model, placing potential victims into legitimate employment and
increasing their takings from rent, fees and wages.
Both
domestic servitude and sexual exploitation predominantly occur in a
secluded environment, and became even more difficult to detect with
national lockdowns. Criminal exploitation, particularly in young persons
has continued to increase. Slavery is the commodification of people for the purpose of exploitation and financial gain and is often hidden in plain sight.We want things cheap things. Are we complicit in the darker elements of humanity that continue to oppress, exploit and humiliate?
Slavery is often termed an invisible crime, and in many ways the
resultant exploitation can be difficult to spot. It is our job, as
allies, as colleagues, as friends, as people who want to do the right
thing to do better so that the invisible comes into sharp focus. As
William Wilberforce said “You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”
Modern slavery is a heinous crime which has no place in our society that often happens because people are discriminated against, denied their rights and not protected by the law. Let us not stop in our fight against it while changing attitudes, challenging power and to help end the systemic
inequality that hampers efforts to bring freedom and justice for
everyone, and with small steps lets continue to break the chains that are all around us.
Climate change is a growing human crisis which is increasingly forcing impoverished vulnerable people from their homes in search of shelter and work. Consequently adults and children are finding themselves more and more vulnerable to forced labour and sexual exploitation. And millions more will be posed to this kind of slavery in the coming decades if we don't act.
As world leaders prepare to discuss the human act of climate change at COP26 next month the time to jointly address human rights, the environment and climate change is now : https://www.antislavery.org/antislaveryday-fighting-for-climate-justice/. And for further information on Anti-Slavery Day go to:
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