Disappointment as MDG Target is Delayed

In the Millenium Development Goals of 2000 Australia made a commitment that it would raise overseas aid to 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015.  In the 2012 Federal Budget announced on May 8, despite a $315 million increase from last year, the aid budget remains at 0.35%.  This is very disappointing.  It had been hoped that this budget would have lifted overseas aid to at least 0.38% GNI.

In difficult financial times those living in poverty become even more vulnerable and therefore more susceptible to dangers such as human trafficking.  You are invited to join with ACRATH members by writing a letter to the Hon Wayne Swan, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer expressing disappointment that the 0.5% of GNI overseas aid target  has been delayed a year until 2016/17. A sample letter may be found here.

For more information visit the International Women’s Development Agency website.

 Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter Vol 10 No 5

The May issue of Stop Trafficking highlights how the digital world lures youth into trafficking and new initiatives to prevent trafficking.

Download the May issue here.

The Australian Response to Human Trafficking

Stop The Traffik coalition, of which ACRATH is a founding member, is organising this public meeting to hear what is being done in Australia to eliminate human trafficking. The Salvation Army in Sydney has been working with people who have experienced human trafficking and slavery in Australia. Some of these people will be present to share their story and their insights into ways we can better work in this area.

When:     Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Time:       6 pm for nibbles, tea and coffee          6:30 -8:00pm session

Where:    69 Bourke St Melbourne

Pacific Trafficking In Persons Forum 2011 Leads to New Network

Following on from the Pacific Trafficking in Persons Forum held in Wellington NZ in December 2011 a national network has been set up to further the work of coordinating efforts in abolishing Human Trafficking with a particular focus on New Zealand and the Pacific Region.

The New Zealand Network Against People Trafficking (NZNAPT) will maintain the momentum created at the Forum and increase focus on and coordination of the Human Trafficking agenda. The Salvation Army, hosts of the 2011 forum, have commenced an association with Stop the Traffik and are in the process of establishing  Stop the Traffik Aotearoa New Zealand which will link with the global network of Stop the Traffik organisations.  Each network will support the other and undertake to keep in regular communication to coordinate efforts and ensure that different agendas are being focused on at any one time.

ACRATH is delighted to be able to collaborate with NZNAPT as we work towards eliminating human trafficking in the Pacific and beyond.

Your Purchase Can Make a Difference

Fair Trade Fortnight gives each of us the opportunity to celebrate the life-changing difference our fair trade choice makes for millions of developing country farmers, producers, their families and communities. Buying Fair Trade is your guarantee that the product was not produced used human trafficking, forced labour or child slavery.  Look for the Fair Trade symbol when purchasing products such as chocolate, tea and coffee in your local supermarket.

For More Information visit the Fair Trade website.

Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter Vol 10 No 4

The April issue of Stop Trafficking outlines the strengths and Weaknesses of anti-trafficking legislation in various countries.

Click here to download this issue.

Australia Can Make a Difference

“Over the past few years Australian aid has contributed to halving the number of people worldwide living without clean water. It has also helped thousands more girls – both in neighbouring countries and beyond – to get an education. Australian aid dollars are reducing poverty and enriching people’s lives.” (Oxfam)

With the Federal Government trying to bring the budget back into surplus it is important that our overseas aid is not reduced.  In 2000 Australia promised to allocate 50cents in every $100 of Gross National Income (GNI) to overseas aid by 2015.  Currently we only give 35cents in every $100 of GNI. Australia is ranked only13th out of the 23 richest donor nations when it comes to government aid generosity.

Click here to add your support to the campaign to remind the Government of how important their promise to the world’s poorest people really is.

Traffick Free by 2020

Ferrero has made a commitment that it will eliminate all cases of the trafficking children, forced adult labour and other worst forms of child labour from their cocoa supply chain by 2020.  In doing so, Ferrero is the first global chocolate company to explicitly state they will fulfill the promise the chocolate industry made collectively in 2001 to eliminate the trafficking of children in their supply chain. Together with Mars, who have promised 100% certified chocolate by 2020, Ferrero is the only other chocolate company to have made comprehensive commitments towards their entiry cocoa supply chain.

Read a copy of Ferrero’s media release here.

Risks of Human Trafficking and Forced Labour with London 2012

The Slavery-Free London Campaign aims to draw attention to the risks of human trafficking and forced labour in the UK and overseas associated with the London 2012 Games, and help us ensure that more is done to put a stop to modern slavery in the run up to, during and after the Games.

For more information on this campaign click here.

To sign the Slavery-Free London pledge click here.

London 2012 Organisers Agree to Protect Workers’ Rights

The Playfair 2012 Campaign  is calling on the organisers of the London 2012 Olympics and global sportswear brands to ensure that workers producing sportswear and souvenirs with the Olympics logo have their rights upheld.

In response to the evidence of exploitation of workers producing goods for London 2012, detailed in the new report Toying with Workers’ Rights (Play Fair, 2012), the organisers of the London Games have signed a ground-breaking agreement with the Playfair 2012 campaign to protect the rights of workers in its supply chains.

Download a copy of  Toying with Workers’ Rights here.

Click here to obtain more information on the Playfair 2012 Campaign.