ILO to launch global campaign to end modern slavery

Media advisory | 19 October 2015
Geneva - The International Labour Organization (ILO) will launch a major new campaign to end modern slavery, in partnership with the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC,) on Tuesday 20 October.

The 50 for Freedom campaign aims to mobilize public support and influence at least 50 countries to ratify the ILO’s Forced Labour Protocol by 2018.

The legally binding Protocol, adopted by ILO member states in 2014, includes measures for prevention, protection and compensation designed to eliminate contemporary forms of slavery.

The event on 20 October will bring together key players in the fight against forced labour to discuss how international standards, better data and strong, innovative policies can help free those in forced labour.

This will include participants from the UK Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the ITUC, ILO, NGO’s and civil society. Actor and ILO Goodwill Ambassador Wagner Moura will also address the audience.

As part of the campaign launch, a new online platform will be announced to inspire people around the world to sign up to end modern slavery.

The event will take place at 15:00 GMT on 20 October at the Inmarsat Conference Centre, London UK. It can be viewed live via Periscope on the ILO Twitter account @ILO.

ILO experts on forced labour and the campaign organizers are available for interview.

Award winning photographer, Lisa Kristine has provided photographs for the campaign and is also available for interview.

For further information, please contact the ILO Department of Communication and Public Information on +41 22 799 7912 or communication@ilo.org

Panellists include:
  • Sharan Burrow - General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation
  • Leonardo Sakamoto - Director of Reporter Brazil and Member of the Board of Trustees of the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on contemporary forms of slavery
  • Simon Steyne - Special Adviser on Fundamental Rights at Work, International Labour Organization