Today is World Day against Trafficking in Persons. Australia has joined a global awareness-raising initiative to fight human trafficking and its devastating impact on society.
Australia has passed a Modern Slavery Act requiring the Commonwealth Government and more than 3,000 large businesses to publish annual statements on their actions to address modern slavery in their supply chains and operations.
Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator Marise Payne has released a statement today about fighting human trafficking:
"More than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery, with over 70 per cent being women and children. This abhorrent criminal activity crosses borders and touches every corner of the globe, affecting some of the world's most vulnerable people."
Today on the World Day against Trafficking in person, the Australian Border Force has also released a website titled "An Online Register for Modern Slavery Statements":
https://modernslaveryregister.gov.au/
This website showcases the Australian government's response to modern slavery. including a procurement toolkit for government procurement officers.
As you would be aware, I was one of 10 individuals appointed to the Modern Slavery Expert Advisory Group, which is a new body providing strategic advice to Government to support the effective implementation of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act, and drive best-practice responses to eradicate exploitation in our supply chains. I have so far attended two meetings where we concentrate our efforts to help eradicate these nefarious crimes at a domestic, regional & global level.
The Australian Border Force has developed guidance for entities impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic about how to report under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and key actions entities can take to reduce the risk of vulnerable workers in their operations and supply chains becoming exposed to modern slavery as a result of COVID‑19. See Information for reporting entities about the impacts of coronavirus.
Prepared for the Alliance 8.7 Action Group on Migration, a report "Migrants and their Vulnerability to Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery and Forced Labour" which examines the recent research literature through a crime prevention lens in order to identify a set of salient features that can help understand the relevant connections between migration and vulnerability to forced labour, human trafficking and modern slavery. This might be of interest to Registered Migration Agents.
To mark this special day, 30 July 2020, Migration Alliance has made an application to join Alliance 8.7, the global initiative against forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour under SDG Target 8.7.
It is my personal ambition and intention to deliver intensive training to Registered Migration Agents on Modern Slavery and Trafficking within an Australian migration context in the near future.
I would like to congratulate the Australian government, in particular Minister Jason Wood, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, for leading by example, and showcasing Australia as a world leader in eradicating modern slavery.