The Conversation

Australian repository of modern slavery statements an important step forward

This week, the Australian government took a significant step forward in its fight against modern slavery by publishing the first batch [...]

Australia's bold new step to combat migrant worker exploitation

Australia takes new step to combat migrant worker exploitation

Workplace exploitation of migrant workers is a longstanding issue in Australia, exacerbated by a fear of immigration repercussions that [...]

Clearing up sex trafficking myths

There are a lot of dangerous misconceptions about sex trafficking that muddy the waters when it comes to prevention and protection [...]

The words "all you needs is less" in a frame on top of a pile of clothing and shoes depicting over consumption in fast fashion.

How fashion brands sell values to cover up labor and environmental abuses

When our favorite fashion brand uses language such as “ethically sourced” and “sustainable” in their ads, we want to believe they [...]

Women and girls at perilous risk of slavery under the Taliban

Fear and panic have gripped Afghanistan’s population as the Taliban have assumed power, capturing the countries’ cities over the past [...]

Canadian Supreme Court case on sex work reignites debate on decriminalization

The case, R v. Kloubakov, is set to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada in November 2024. The case involves two men from Calgary [...]

Better farming practices could help end cocoa slavery

Writing for The Conversation, researcher Michael Odijie posits that slavery in cocoa harvesting is a centuries-long problem. He notes [...]

A tree half withered on dry, cracked soil, and the other half green and flourishing, representing climate change in Africa.

How climate change exacerbates modern slavery in Africa

Modern slavery affects over 50 million people worldwide. The situation is severe in Africa, where 3.8 million people are working in [...]

Could Australia’s new agricultural work visa lead to more exploitation?

The Australian government is currently finalizing the details of a new temporary visa for agricultural workers. Proponents hope the [...]

Migrant farmers protest exploitation in UK seasonal worker scheme

For years, reports of abuse within the UK’s seasonal worker scheme have gone largely unaddressed. Now, amid mounting allegations of [...]

Data Science to Fight Human Trafficking

Yesterday marked the UN’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, an opportunity to shine a spotlight on efforts to stop the criminal [...]

U.S. prison slavery: a moment of reckoning

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall [...]

The UK’s Modern Slavery Act—what went wrong?

The UK’s 2015 Modern Slavery Act turned ten years old this week. The legislation was designed primarily to increase protections for [...]

The Forgotten Male Victims of Forced Marriage

Forced marriage is usually talked about in relation to women or child brides being coerced into wedding someone. But did you know that [...]

Platforms for housing Ukrainian refugees must step up safety measures

As 4.5 million refugees flee the Russian invasion of Ukraine, they are being met with an outpouring of support and generosity from [...]

What’s Missing from 101 Company Statements on Modern Slavery

Two university researchers in the UK analyzed 101 company statements published under the UK Modern Slavery Act, uncovering major gaps [...]

Migrant workers are documenting their experiences to drive change

Groups of Bangladeshi and Pakistani men are raising awareness of the conditions they face as undocumented agricultural workers in [...]

Survivors Tell of Loss of Identity, Family Rejection for Refusing Forced Marriage

In the last four years since England and Wales changed their laws on forced marriage there have been two landmark convictions of [...]

U.K. set to become even more hostile for people fleeing danger

After recent deaths in the English Channel, the U.K.’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has announced a five-point plan to overhaul the [...]

African Virgin Girls Taken as “Wives of Gods”

Trokosi is traditional belief system in West Africa wherein virgin girls — some as young as six — are taken to shrines, where they are [...]

How business, government, and consumers can act to end modern slavery

Modern slavery is ubiquitous. From the clothes we wear and the food we eat to the cars we drive and the technology we use, many of the [...]

How the UK Can Learn from Brazil and India

Work is seen as a fundamental means to getting out of poverty. Yet for many in the UK, despite the employment rate remaining high, [...]

Four years on, has Australia’s Modern Slavery Act been effective?

An independent review of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act has concluded that the legislation is failing to have a significant [...]

How We Avoid Feeling Guilty for Slave-Made Goods

We consume or use products that are likely tainted by modern slavery every day. From gadgets to clothing, fish, cocoa, and cane sugar, [...]