Proposed New Legislation

The Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan MP, has announced that legislation will be introduced into Parliament requiring large Australian companies to report annually on measures they are taking to combat modern slavery in their supply chains. In the media statement Minister Keenan states:

“The proposed reporting requirement will ensure large businesses and other entities operating in Australia publish annual statements outlining their actions to address this crime. “It will support the business community to respond more effectively to modern slavery, raise business awareness of the issue and create a level playing field for business to share information about what they are doing to eliminate modern slavery. Importantly, it will also encourage business to use their market influence to improve workplace standards and practices.”

A consultation process will take place with industry being invited to comment on a discussion paper. Submission for the consultation will be open till 20th October 2017.

Having advocated for slavery free supply chains for many years ACRATH welcomes this statement from Minister Keenan.

Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter Vol 15 No 8

The August issue of Stop Trafficking! highlights the trafficking of homeless youth. Articles include The WEB that is human trafficking, Homeless youth in the United States, How are homeless youth affected and A protective response model for youth intervention.Download you copy of Stop Trafficking! here.

Public Hearing in Melbourne

The Federal Government Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is currently conducting an inquiry into whether Australia should have a Modern Slavery Act. To provide a submission for this inquiry ACRATH partnered with The Freedom Partnership, the Justice and International Mission of the Uniting Church in Australia Victoria and Tasmania Synod and FECCA (the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia). At a public hearing in Melbourne on 2nd August representatives of the four organisations responded to questions from the inquiry committee.

ACRATH members from Victoria attended the public hearing. A copy of the written submission (submission No 199) from these organisations can be found on the inquiry page of the Parliament website.

 Marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

In a media release to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons the Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan MP, has announced the Federal Government is committing “$500,000 to four Australian Civil Society organisations for projects to prevent and deter these deplorable crimes. The specialist organisations include the Salvation Army, Anti-Slavery Australia, The Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans and the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights.” Download the media release here.

ACRATH thanks Minister Keenan for this grant that will enable us to continue working towards the elimination of human trafficking. We also congratulate the other grant recipients and look forward to continued collaboration in this important human rights issue.

Join the Fight to Eradicate Human Trafficking

ACRATH Committee Meets in Melbourne

For two days in July the ACRATH National Committee met in Melbourne. With gratitude for the past and hope in the future set the atmosphere for the two day meeting. As June 30, 2017 had marked the end of a three year strategic plan the meeting provided an opportunity to reflect back and celebrate what had been achieved and to see what lessons had been learnt. This reflection informed the meeting as the committee proceeded to work on the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan and discuss the development of various ACRATH projects. These projects included the Archdiocese of Sydney Anti-Slavery Task Force, ACRATH partnership with St Vincent’s Health Australia, the 2018 ACRATH Calendar, 2017 Canberra Advocacy and the 2018 ACRATH national Conference.

Law Enforcement Committee Releases Report

In December 2015, the Parliament of Australia Joint Committee on Law Enforcement initiated an inquiry into human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices. Having received submission and conducted public hearings in Sydney Melbourne and Canberra the Committee has released a report on their finding. The report contains 20 recommendations. ACRATH wrote a submission for this inquiry and also took part in a public hearing in Melbourne. ACRATH was therefore delighted to see the Law Enforcement Committee recommending such things as a National Compensation scheme for victims of trafficking, slavery and slavery-like offences to be funded by proceeds of crime, the de-linking of access to the Support for Trafficked People Program from compliance with criminal investigations, Commonwealth Government facilitation and expedition of family reunification for victims of trafficking, slavery and slavery-like offences and the appointment of an Anti-Slavery and Trafficking Commissioner. The full report can be accessed here.

Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter Vol 15 No 7

The 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) was released by the  US State Department recently. The July issue of Stop Trafficking! highlights some of the issues raised in this report. It also profiles some of the 2017 TIP heroes named when the report was released.  Download your copy of the July issue here.

ACRATH Needs your Help

ACRATH has launched a fundraising campaign following the end of Federal Government funding on June 30 2017.  While ACRATH, and several other organisations, have been invited to apply for funding as part of a competitive grants program, we have no guarantee of success.

ACRATH needs to secure funding now and so we have launched a fundraising appeal throughout July, leading up to the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30. We need your help. Our work is critical to the lives of so many people. We cannot stop now. Read more…

Click here to make a donation.

Ending Slavery

Slavery is the world’s second largest fastest growing illegal crime and it touches us every day – through food we eat, clothes we wear and products we purchase. There is a global movement to end it.

International advocate against slavery, Matt Friedman, is coming to Australia and will speak on the breadth and range of human slavery in the world today and how we can all play our part in helping to address this global problem.

When:    Fri 28 July 2017 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Where:   ACRATH – 54 Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park

RSVP essential for catering purposes. Book here.