ACRATH back in Canberra

ACRATH is back in Canberra, visiting Members of Parliament and policy makers face-to-face, after three years of online advocacy, the result of COVID-19 travel restrictions.  In the first week of September the team of 11 staff and volunteers met with a range of people in a bid to raise awareness and advocate for better outcomes…

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Advocacy Visit to Parliament

A group of 10 ACRATH members are preparing to make their annual advocacy visit to Parliament House in Canberra. The visit will take place during the week beginning 4th September. These visits provide an opportunity for ACRATH to raise issues on human trafficking and slavery with members of Parliament and to advocate for systemic change.…

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Human Rights 75 Initiative

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. In the aftermarth of World War II the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human Rights 75 is an initiative whose three main goals focus on universality, progress and engagement under the leadership of UN Human Rights, together…

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Always Hope for Change

K and D* are Directors of the Jack and Hedy Brent Foundation, longtime donors to ACRATH. The regularity of the Foundation’s support, together with other organisations, has made it possible for ACRATH to advocate for major policy changes over the years.  One recent example is the Federal Government’s Budget decision in May to offer victims…

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16 Days Campaign 2022

Stay tuned to ACRATH’s website and socials as we stand up for 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, beginning in two days, on Friday, 25th November. This annual international campaign kicks off on 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10th December, Human Rights Day. Individuals…

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Call for National Compensation Scheme

ACRATH invites you to join the Anti-Slavery Australia call to establish a national compensation scheme for survivors of modern slavery. Anti-Slavery Australia calls on the Australian Government to introduce a national compensation scheme to properly remedy the effects of modern slavery in Australia and assist victim-survivors to move forward and rebuild their lives. These reforms…

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Workers Sue Over Labour Abuse

For a number of years ACRATH in collaboration with St Vincent’s Health Australia has been advocating about the use of forced labour in Malaysian rubber glove factories. A group of 13 Bangladeshi workers who had been trafficked to Malaysia to work in a disposable rubber glove manufacuring plant owned by the Brightway Group are now…

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Trafficking in Agriculture

The UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and girls, Ms. Siobhán Mullally, expressed her grave concern about trafficking in the agriculture sector. In her  June 2022 report to the UN Human Rights Council she stated: “The growth of agribusiness and the power of corporations, combined with the rapid pace of climate change…

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National Compensation Scheme

ACRATH’s June conversation looked at the need for a National Compensation Scheme for Victim/Survivors of Modern Slavery with Professor Jennifer Burn, director of Anti-Slavery Australia. Modern slavery is a violation of human rights. In Australia it is a federal crime. During the conversation Jennifer commented that Australia needs a National Compensation Scheme “that is uniform,…

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Remembering Rana Plaza

April 24th 2022 marks the ninth anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This building housed five garment factories. As a result of the collapse more than 1,130 people lost their lives and over 2,500 were injured. This event helped to highlighted issues of worker exploitation in the fashion industry.…

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Garment Worker’s Rights

For many years NGOs have been advocating for a living wage for garment workers. In 2017 Oxfam launched the What She Makes campaign to progress this issue. Without a living wage women working in the garment industry are living in poverty. Recently, Oxfam Australia’s side session at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the…

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Strengthen Modern Slavery Laws

A new report – Paper Promises? Evaluating the early impact of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act  – is the outcome of a review of statement submitted by 102 companies under this legislation. Companies selected were from four sectors known to have risks of modern slavery in their supply chains – garments from China, rubber gloves from Malaysia,…

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