Vertical Markets

Funds to fight slavery

by Mark Rowe

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is offering £11m to a ‘Modern Slavery Innovation Fund’. The Home Office has set it up to tackle the crime in high-risk countries from which victims are trafficked to the UK. She was speaking at the Santa Marta Conference in the Vatican, which brings together law enforcement, representatives from the Roman Catholic Church and civil society groups towards a global response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

The fund, open to bidders, seeks projects which trial new approaches to tackling modern slavery in countries from which victims are trafficked. To qualify, bidders must provide evidence their scheme would drive at least one of 6 key objectives set out by the Home Office: improve law enforcement, legislation and policy; reduce vulnerability to exploitation; aid victim support and recovery; improve global co-ordination; encourage responsible business and slavery-free supply chains; and enhance the evidence base.

A further £3m will be available to bidders in a ‘Child Trafficking Protection Fund’ to be used to protect vulnerable children overseas and within the UK who have the potential to be trafficked, and to prevent those who have been exploited from going missing and becoming victims again in the future.

Amber Rudd, pictured, said: “Modern slavery is a global crime which demands an international response. Only by working together can we win the fight against this barbaric crime, which destroys the lives of the most vulnerable. Britain has taken world-leading action to tackle modern slavery. We are determined to work with other governments around the world to eradicate slavery and send a message that it will not be tolerated. As part of our ongoing commitment to tackle the scourge of modern slavery these funds, totalling £14 million, will help develop innovative approaches to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice.”

About the law

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 among other things required businesses over a certain size to disclose each year what action they have taken to ensure there is no modern slavery in their business or supply chains. As an example, see the statement by the services contractor Mitie.

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