Walk Free

International law should be a powerful tool for holding governments accountable for modern slavery, but it’s still falling short of what it could do. Challenges like jurisdictional issues can make enforcement difficult. Despite these hurdles, international law is important in setting global standards and pressuring countries to protect human rights.

Colombia has banned child marriage, a major step in protecting children's rights and combating modern slavery, which disproportionately affects girls from minority groups. An estimated 397,000 people in Colombia live in modern slavery, according to our latest Global Slavery Index. The ban sets a key precedent for Latin America, reinforcing Colombia’s commitment to safeguarding children's rights.

Thailand has repatriated 260 survivors of human trafficking from Myanmar, with more than half identified as Ethiopian nationals. This latest crackdown exposes the widespread scale of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. Human trafficking is defined under the Palermo Protocol as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, or coercion for exploitation, including forced labour and modern slavery. There's an urgent need for stronger international cooperation to dismantle these networks and protect vulnerable communities.

“...lived experience is expertise. Backing the leadership of survivors is critical to transforming the movement to end modern slavery; it is critical to ensuring that all migrant workers are protected and valued throughout the world.” Our sister, Grace Forrest, is the Founding Director of Walk Free, an international human rights organization working to end modern slavery and exploitation. She discusses the critical role of survivor-leadership in transforming migration systems, and the significance of Walk Free's partnership with GMWN.

The United States, the world’s largest aid donor, has suspended foreign aid under President Donald Trump’s directive.   There’s already evidence of significant impacts on efforts to combat modern slavery. Human rights groups in countries including Kenya, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Kuwait have had to stop all programs. 

50 million people are living in modern slavery globally. 🌎 From migrant workers experiencing forced labour in global supply chains to people who are trafficked and forced to work - modern slavery risks can look very different in each country. 📹 Our Research and Policy Analyst Ana Ardila explains more. 👉 Read the Global Slavery Index, which is also available in Spanish. Visit our website and select ‘Download’, then the ‘Spanish’ button at the top of the pop-up box: https://lnkd.in/gDFsqcgF

Saudi Arabia has become the first Arab country to launch a National Policy on forced labour and worker rights. Migrant workers often face dire working conditions, wage theft, and gruelling hours that exceed international labour standards. There’s a strong need for improved coordination across national, regional, and international levels to strengthen global efforts against forced labour.

Modern slavery is deeply connected to the demand for goods and services from higher-income countries. The buying practices of wealthier governments and businesses make them complicit when exploitation happens in lower-income countries where global supply chains reach.     The world's wealthiest nations must step up and fill these funding gaps to ensure the global movement to end modern slavery is not abandoned. https://lnkd.in/gjJNEp-G

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a major step forward in the fight against modern slavery. This is the first time the international court has released a dedicated Policy on Slavery Crimes, providing clear guidance on prosecuting these crimes under the Rome Statute. Walk Free contributed to the consultation, ensuring issues impacting vulnerable youth and migrant workers were considered. But while this policy is a milestone, critical questions remain - especially on how human trafficking is covered in practice and how the non-punishment of victims principle will be applied. Legal reforms are also progressing to strengthen global accountability, including proposals to recognise the slave trade as a crime against humanity and a war crime. 📖 Read the ICC’s policy to understand more.

Under Iraq’s new law, girls can legally marry from the age of 9 in certain circumstances, according to interpretations of religious laws by different sects. The legal marriage age for boys has also been reduced from 18 to 15. This change significantly reduces protections for women and children, exposing them to greater risks of exploitation and abuse. We will continue to call for ongoing international pressure to eradicate harmful practices like child marriage and to protect the rights of women and girls worldwide.