New South Wales (NSW) takes the lead in the global fight against modern slavery, with the unveiling of a comprehensive three-year strategic plan named ‘Working Together for Real Freedom’. This plan, initiated by the state’s independent Anti-slavery Commissioner, aims to tackle the burgeoning problem of modern slavery, which has seen numbers skyrocket to over 16,400 victims in NSW alone.
The latest survey data from Essential Research shows an overwhelming public appetite for action, with a significant 78 per cent of respondents urging their government to do more in preventing modern slavery. The survey, commissioned by the Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, also unearthed a widespread lack of awareness around the severity of the issue. A startling six out of ten Australians were oblivious to the rising numbers of modern slavery victims in NSW, with more than 40 per cent misguidedly believing it illegal for Australian businesses to trade with foreign companies implicated in modern slavery.
Pioneering the new anti-slavery plan, Dr James Cockayne, the inaugural Anti-slavery Commissioner in Australia and just the second in the world, stated that ‘Working Together for Real Freedom’ forms the cornerstone for efficacious anti-slavery measures in NSW over the next three years. This strategic effort thrusts NSW onto the global stage as a stalwart against modern slavery.
Key components of the plan comprise eradicating products of modern slavery from public procurement, creating a support and referral hotline for victims, centralising survivors in anti-slavery initiatives, fostering ethical business practices, training frontline workers to identify and report modern slavery, and setting up an expert Advisory Panel, along with biannual anti-slavery forums.
The hidden nature of modern slavery means that it could be taking place in our backyards, said Dr Cockayne, occurring anywhere from rural farms to urban shops and construction sites. It impacts a broad cross-section of society, including vulnerable women and children affected by domestic violence, office workers ensnared in debt bondage, girls coerced into marriage, and individuals living with disability exploited in segregated workplaces or care homes.
Sophie Otiende, a renowned survivor-leader and Chief Executive of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, will deliver a keynote address at the launch. Otiende underscores the importance of integrating survivor perspectives into decision-making processes, as an effective strategy towards a slavery-free world.
The strategic plan, Dr Cockayne revealed, was formulated through in-depth consultations with experts, stakeholders, and survivors of modern slavery. In total, over 2,500 individuals contributed to the consultation process between September 2022 and May 2023.
He asserted, “This is an ambitious plan compared to business as usual, but not when compared to the size of the problem we are facing. There’s no time to waste. It’s time to take a stand to end modern slavery in New South Wales.”
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