Anti-Slavery International

“The fight against slavery and for human rights cannot be achieved alone. We must combine our efforts to achieve our goals.” - Dr Zoumana Diarra, Secretary General of Mali’s National Commission for Human Rights   Today, on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Dr Diarra's words reminds us that no one alone can bring an end to descent-based and other forms of modern slavery. On this day, we want to highlight crucial progress for human rights in Mali, where a new penal code has criminalised slavery for the first time.   Jo Baker, International Advocacy Manager and Mohamed Camara, Africa Programme Coordinator from Anti-Slavery International, sat down with Dr Zoumana Diarra, the Secretary General of Mali’s National Commission for Human Rights, to discuss this important milestone.   💡Read about the new penal code, how it was achieved and what comes next in our new blog post: https://lnkd.in/eHz2mbbE   We are hopeful that the inclusion of slavery in the new penal code will contribute to long-term changes necessary to end it and provide support for people who have experienced it. We will continue to advocate alongside activists, our partners and other civil society organisations to bring an end to descent-based slavery.   You can be a part of this movement too. On the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, learn more about descent-based slavery and join the movement: https://lnkd.in/e9vZZFd8

🚨🍅‘Italian’ purees in UK supermarkets likely to contain tomatoes grown and picked in China using forced labour A BBC News investigation released tonight has uncovered that “Italian” tomato purées sold in UK supermarkets, including products sold by Tesco, Waitrose & Partners and Asda, “appear to contain tomatoes grown and picked in China using forced labour”. The investigation highlights that China grows about a third of the world’s tomatoes and most Chinese tomatoes come from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Uyghur Region). ⚠️The Uyghur Region: A hub for forced labour and human rights abuses Uyghurs and other Turkic and Muslim-majority peoples are subject to state-imposed forced labour across industries, brutal repression and intrusive surveillance by the Chinese Government. Human rights and legal experts have determined abuses in the Region as crimes against humanity and/or genocide. 📢We urgently need stronger UK laws   This is the latest exposé showing how UK consumers could be unwittingly buying everyday, high-street products made with forced labour. It shows that the UK Government must introduce robust laws to compel companies to act, and hold them to account if they do not. Currently, no law in the UK compels companies to conduct human rights due diligence on their supply chains and act when abuses are uncovered, or bans the import of goods made using forced labour. Legislation in the US, EU and elsewhere means that the UK is lagging behind and increasingly risks becoming a dumping ground for goods made using forced labour. Watch the documentary: https://lnkd.in/g2xepHVi Read our press release: https://lnkd.in/edEitW-3 #ForcedLabour #ModernSlavery #SupplyChains

Everyone deserves fair working conditions. Yet, too often, workers are being failed by governments, businesses and the global economy. The protections that are in place are falling short and we are seeing profit coming before people and planet. 👷♀️🌍 ➡️The consequences are clear: today, on #BlackFriday, thousands of Amazon workers worldwide are expected to strike and protest, demanding better workers’ rights and urgent climate action. 🔗https://lnkd.in/eCcBcHXz However, progress is being made. Earlier this year, the passing of the #EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, #CSDDD, marked a significant step forward for workers rights. This new legislation requires large companies operating in the EU to conduct due diligence to identify and address human rights abuses and environmental harm across their value chains. Our advisory team can advise on how your business can work to incorporate the new legislation onto your practices, but they are also experts in non-stock supply chains, including warehousing, third party logistics, and freight stages. If you’d like to explore how we can help your business align with these evolving standards, feel free to reach out—we’d love to collaborate. ➡️https://lnkd.in/eXFbruNE

Are you, or someone you know, our new EU Adviser? This consultant will play an integral role in supporting our advocacy for corporate accountability legislation in the #EU. Specifically, this role will work on the next steps for advocacy on both EU laws we have been advocating for: the #CSDDD and #ForcedLabourRegulation. See the Terms of Reference here ⬇️ and apply by 11th December. Is this role not for you but for someone you know? Tag them in the comments!

📢We are seeking a Chief Executive to lead the organisation in the next phase of our development. Are you passionate about driving systemic change to end modern slavery, improving lives for millions of people across the globe, and have the leadership skills and experience needed to lead a small and nimble global organisation? This is an exciting time to join. Our current strategy will be reviewed in 2025 we are seeking an inspirational Chief Executive to lead the organisation in the next phase of our development and ambition. Responsible for all aspects of Anti-Slavery Internationals work, the Chief Executive will work collaboratively with the Board, staff and other stakeholders to ensure that we remain a world leader in tackling slavery. Read more and apply by 5th January 2025: https://lnkd.in/erNwCuCG

🚨 Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and Equidem have launched a groundbreaking report on #migrant workers and #JustTransition in the Gulf region. ⚡The report is informed by direct testimonies of migrant workers and focus on the renewable energy sector. The research highlights the severe abuses experienced by the migrant workforce in the region, and the urgent need for a shift to human-rights centred business operations.  Anti-Slavery International supports the report’s demand for  ✅ Rigorous risk assessments and human rights due diligence;  ✅ Fair recruitment practices; and   ✅ Effective remedy to abuse for migrant workers. There can’t be a just transition to greener energy without the protection of workers’ rights and #decentwork by businesses across their entire supply chains. Now is the time to act! ➡️ Read further here: https://lnkd.in/eyhCJt5Y

📢⚖️ Today, the Court of Appeal is hearing an important case against Dyson. Migrant workers are appealing a High Court decision that their legal claim against Dyson (over alleged forced labour and unsafe working and living conditions in Malaysia) should not be heard in English courts. The claim is against two English-domiciled Dyson companies and a Malaysian-domiciled company, and the workers argue that Dyson unfairly benefited at their expenses and is responsible for breaching their legal rights. The High Court’s decision shows how difficult it is for victims to obtain justice in English courts and hold UK companies accountable for harm in their value chains. The case also highlights the urgent need for stronger UK laws to prevent human rights abuses in business operations and ensure victims have access to justice. We’ll be closely following this case and will share our thoughts when the judgment is delivered. 🎥 Watch the hearing here: https://lnkd.in/g5Ntiau 

We're at the #UN Forum on Business and Human Rights! Together with partners and allies such as Elfidar Iltebir UYGHUR AMERICAN ASSOCIATION INC , Uyghur Human Rights Project and Campaign for Uyghurs, we want to ensure that the green transition is just and sustainable, respecting workers’ and human rights. That is why we are standing side by side, calling on governments and businesses to make sure that industries such as solar and electric vehicles do not rely on Uyghur forced labour. Hear more about what we are doing in Geneva from Uyghur allies ⬇️ and make sure to connect if you are here. #UNForumBHR

The United Nations Forum on #BizHumanRights is finally here, and we’re excited to be in Geneva! Over the next few days, we’ll be engaging and connecting with partners, peers and stakeholders across the business and human rights space. While we’re here, we’re focusing on two key priorities: ensuring the Global South has a strong voice in the rollout of the EU #CSDDD and Forced Labour Regulation, and advocating for a just transition to green energy that respects human rights. If you’re attending, make sure to connect with our Business and Human Rights team! 👇 Eloise Savill, Private Sector Adviser Chloe C., Head of Thematic Advocacy Programmes Adrià Cots Fernández, Business and Human Rights Partnerships Coordinator Stay tuned for updates and insights as we share reflections from the event. Meanwhile, hear from Angella from our partners in Uganda explain what we are doing at this year’s #UNForumBHR:

📢 We’re excited to announce the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region is now on LinkedIn! We’re a coalition of over 400 civil society organisations and trade unions from more than 45 countries united to end state-imposed forced labour of Uyghurs and other Turkic and Muslim-majority peoples. We’re calling on corporations to immediately disengage from the Uyghur Region and governments to adopt legislation to ban the imports of goods made with state-imposed forced labour. Follow us to stay up to date on our advocacy work and share our page with your network. Join us in the movement to #EndUyghurForcedLabour!