Recommendations to the US President

In April 2013 UNANIMA International was represented in Washington DC at a meeting organized by the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in collaboration with the Bakhita Initiative (U.S. Catholic Sisters United Against Human Slavery) for 12 leaders of groups of women religious who work against human trafficking. During the meeting UNANIMA attended a ceremony at the White House for the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The occasion was the Council’s formal presentation of its report on “Building Partnerships to Eradicate Modern-Day Slavery.” The report begins: “There are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 21 million in bondage across the globe.” (International Labor Organization). The report is excellent, with 10 specific recommendations for the President.   Download a copy of the report here.

Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) Report

The Crimes Amendment Legislation (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Act 2013 has made forced marriage a crime under Australian law.  A forced marriage is defined as a marriage that is not freely and fully consented to because of the use of coercion, threat or deception.  In Australia there is a lack of data about the frequency of forced marriages.  However the AIC has undertaken research directed at understanding the role of marriage and partner migration in the trafficking of persons.  In March 2013 they released a Research in Practice document entitled Forced and servile marriage in the context of human trafficking.  Dowload a copy of the document here.

Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter Vol 11 No 5

The May 2013 issue of Stop Trafficking concentrates on the issue of Forced Marriage.  It includes articles on Forced Marriage Prevention and Handling Forced Marriage Cases.  The newsletter reminds us of the importance of girls being valued and educated to promote child rights and prevent poverty.

Download the May Issue of Stop Trafficking here.

Latest ACRATH News

The latest ACRATH Newsletter gives an indication of some of the activities ACRATH members have been involved in so far in 2013.  Items include the ACRATH National Conference,  an advocacy visit to Canberra, new slavery legislation and the ACRATH RAP (Radio Awareness Program).  Readers are also invited to take part in a campaign to encourage supermarkets to have more Easter Eggs manufactured with certified cocoa on their shelves  in 2014.

Download the ACRATH Newsletter here.

Preparing for Easter 2014

Easter eggs may be off our supermarket shelves but we haven’t forgotten that in 2013 once again it was difficulty to purchasing certified Easter eggs in many supermarkets.  Purchasing Easter eggs made from certified cocoa ensures child slavery has not been used to produce the cocoa.

Supermarkets are placing their 2014 orders now. So exercise your consumer muscle. Write to the CEO of your supermarket asking them to sell more certified eggs in 2014.

Join ACRATH in supporting the STOP THE TRAFFIK letter writing campaign and hopefully next Easter we’ll be eating certified eggs.

Click on the following links to download template letters:

Letter to CEO of IGA,  Letter to CEO of Woolworths, Letter to CEO of Coles

How Will You Celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight?

When you purchase goods carrying the Fair Trade logo you know that the product has been produced without the use of child labour or exploitative practices.  When purchasing everyday products such as chocolate, coffee, tea, and cotton opt for the Fair Trade products.  This will ensure that  the world’s poorest farmers get a decent price for their products.

The Fair Trade  Australia and New Zealand website reports that over the past five years the annual growth rate in Fair Trade purchases has been 50%.  By this small action you can make a big difference to eliminating exploitation of farmers and children.

To find where you can purchase Fair Trade products click here.

IOM Report Examines Recent Trends

The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) first report on counter trafficking and assistance to vulnerable migrants indicates that 53% of the human trafficking victims brought to them for assistance in 2011 involved victims of labour exploitation.

In all 3,014 victims of labour exploitation were assisted by IOM.  Other forms of exploitation for victims of human trafficking assisted by IOM included sexual exploitation (27%), combined sexual and labour exploitation (5%) and begging (5%).  A disturbing trend was that 2,040 trafficked children were given assistance in 2011.  This represented a 27% increase on the 2008 figure of 1,565.

For more information download the full report here.