Anti-slavery coalition calls for Modern Slavery Bill to be strengthened

Tuesday December 17

A coalition comprising 15 leading anti-slavery organisations has welcomed the new Modern Slavery Bill but called for it to be strengthened.

The call came yesterday as the government issued the draft bill and Frank Field MP published his evidence review including an estimate there are 10,000 victims of slavery in the UK.

The coalition of anti-slavery groups published a briefing paper calling on churches to take up the work of 18th century abolitionists: “The transatlantic slave trade was banned in 1807 and slavery was abolished across the British Empire in 1834, yet it is still with us today. Children are sold into slavery to pay family debts; people pay for passage, only to be trafficked over borders and find forced labour conditions rather than freedom ... this must end.”

Dr Dave Landrum, director of advocacy at the Evangelical Alliance (a member of the coalition), said: “For evangelicals this is unfinished business; we've been fighting slavery for hundreds of years, and we are still at it today.

"This bill needs to live up to its promise. It has the potential to tackle modern slavery but the government needs listen to the campaign groups in order to achieve that aim. Together as organisations motivated by our Christian faith we call on the government to act and strengthen the bill so it can bring freedom to many caught in slavery.”

Specifically, the coalition called on the government to increase the focus on victims; to appoint an independent anti-slavery commissioner; and to bring greater transparency to supply chain legislation to make business give out information on measures taken to eradicate modern day slavery from their supply chains.

Last month, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Lorna Hood, speaking at the 200th anniversary celebrations for David Livingstone, said that the greatest way to honour his legacy would be to continue the fight against human trafficking.

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