News

October 2010

1. From domestic work to modern day slavery

   10 October 2010

   In her latest report to the Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Gulnara Shahinian highlights modern day domestic servitude as a global human rights concern.

2. USA: Human Trafficking Bill Becomes Law in California

   06 October 2010

   Companies doing business in the state will now be required to disclose whether they have policies addressing human trafficking in their supply chains.

September 2010

1. Mauritania: Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery

   20 September 2010

   Mrs Gulnara Shahinian, conducted an official mission to Mauritania from 24 October to 4 November 2009. The main objective of the mission was to look at the effectiveness of the Mauritanian policies, laws and specific programmes to combat slavery.

2. Business Leaders Award to Fight Human Trafficking - Deadline extended

   01 September 2010

   The submission date has been extended to the end of September. To honour business leaders who take an active stand against human trafficking, End Human Trafficking Now!, the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) and the United Nations Global Compact are jointly launching a new international award, “Business Leaders against Human Trafficking”

August 2010

1. Roger Plant, winner of the William Wilberforce Award

   20 August 2010

   The former head of the ILO Special action programme to combat forced labour is amongst the 2010 winners of the William Wilberforce award for his significant action to fight slavery.

2. Domini Reaches Agreement with Nucor on Slavery in Brazil

   13 August 2010

   After a three-year engagement, Domini, an investment firm specializing exclusively in socially responsible investing, has reached an important and far-reaching agreement with Nucor, the largest steel producer in the United States.

3. Human trafficking takes centre stage at the General Assembly

   06 August 2010

   On 30 July the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons. By adopting the Plan, Governments resolve to take concrete action to prevent trafficking in persons, protect and assist victims, prosecute related crimes and strengthen partnerships among Governments, civil society organizations and the private sector, including the media

July 2010

1. Ireland: Forced labour criminalised by Human Trafficking Act

   30 July 2010

   The employers of people coerced into working in restaurants or private homes could face criminal prosecution under the new Human Trafficking Act, which not only criminalises trafficking people by bringing them into the country, but also criminalises forced labour when here

2. US: State legislatures step up efforts to fight human trafficking

   21 July 2010

   A burst of activity among state legislatures to target human trafficking has ushered in dozens of laws to step up criminal penalties against traffickers and offer new help to victims. So far this year, more than 40 bills have been enacted and roughly 350 introduced.

3. New flash movie “Say no to Forced labour!"

   13 July 2010

   The ILO Special Action Programme to combat forced labour has just released a new flash movie to raise general awareness on forced labour and human trafficking

4. “Slavery is cheaper, why should I hire you?”

   12 July 2010

   This is one of the posters developed by ITUC in the framework of a new campaign targeting young people called “Change the world”.

5. Launch of a multilateral project to curb forced trafficking of Nigerians to Europe

   11 July 2010

   The project, which was launched in Abuja on 29 June 2010, is the initiative of the Nigerian Federal Government, the European Union and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to protect and reintegrate victims of trafficking.

6. ITUC map of the Workers’ Alliance against Forced Labour and Trafficking

   08 July 2010

   This map designed by the International Trade Union Confederation, with the support of the ILO Special Action Programme to combat forced labour provides information on the workers' alliance against forced labour and trafficking and examples of good practices.

June 2010

1. The Global Trade Union Alliance to Combat Forced Labour and Trafficking Launches New Report

   17 June 2010

   A new ITUC publication details the extent of slavery and other forms of forced labour around the world, and sets out practical steps that trade unions can take to boost the global drive to help the more than 12 million people trapped in the different kinds of forced labour.

2. Migrant construction workers exploited in Azerbaijan

   17 June 2010

   The Independent Trade Union of Construction Complex Workers of Azerbaijan (Inshaat-Ish), the Trade Union of Construction and Construction Materials of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SGIGMBIH), Trade Union Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Republika Srpska (SGSKRS) and the BWI signed a cooperation agreement on the protection of migrant workers’ rights in Eastern Europe

3. “Contemporary forms of slavery in Brazil are crimes that must be punished,” says the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery

   10 June 2010

   During her mission, the Special Rapporteur congratulated Brazil for openly discussing and addressing forced labour: “The Brazilian Government has led the way in combating forced labour

4. Georgia: Presentation of the ILO Casebook of Court Decisions on Forced Labour and Human Trafficking

   06 June 2010

   The ILO Casebook of Court Decisions on Forced Labour and Trafficking is part of the ILO’s broader efforts to address forced labour through promotional means and technical cooperation. On 4 June 2010, the Georgian translation of the Casebook has been launched, in the framework of the EU funded Anti-trafficking Project.

5. Trafficking still one of fastest growing criminal activities globally, says UN expert

   02 June 2010

   Human trafficking, “one of the most appalling forms of human rights violations,” remains one of the world’s fastest growing criminal activities in the world, the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons said today.

6. Human trafficking is real: Let’s protect each other – Tsireledzani!

   02 June 2010

   Since February 2009, the Tsireledzani awareness-raising project has been working on the development, testing and dissemination of a series of pilot products, activities and tools aimed at raising awareness on human trafficking in selected pilot areas in South Africa. The Tsireledzani Programme is lead by the National Prosecuting Authority on behalf of the South African Government and its partners.

7. Grass-roots workshops on forced labor and trafficking in human beings with the ILO Social Partners in Tbilissi, Georgia

   01 June 2010

   The trainings focused on reaching out to members of the ILO Social Partners to consolidate know-how and ensure transfer of knowledge concerning human trafficking and forced labour