News

• Slavery In Our Times
  17 March 2008 - Human trafficking is not just a problem for other communities or other people. It exists on our own doorsteps, and our lack of action shames us all. It's hard to put an accurate figure on the full scale of this misery. But the International Labor Organization estimates that there are at least 2.5 million forced laborers who are victims of human trafficking at any one time. Their plight can be seen as the hidden side of globalization: a sickening business worth more than $30 billion a year.
• Uzbeks Prey to Modern Slave Trade
  04 March 2008 - As poverty and unemployment drive an increasing number of workers abroad, many become victims of traffickers who sell them into virtual slavery. These “potential slaves” constitute the least well-informed group of migrants, and consequently the least able to defend their legal rights. But for the moment, there is little sign they are heeding warnings that they are placing themselves at risk by entrusting their future to the wrong people.
• ILO's workshops at the UN.GIFT Vienna Forum - [pdf 166 KB]
  12 February 2008 - The UN.GIFT Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking will take place in Vienna, Austria, 13-15 February 2008, to raise awareness about human trafficking. ...
• ITUC and ETUC Welcome European Convention Against Human Trafficking
  30 January 2008 - The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) have welcomed the entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. The Convention becomes legally binding on the first ten countries to have ratified it (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia), on 1 February, with Bosnia-Herzegovina, France and Norway following on 1 May. Most European countries have taken the first steps to ratify the Convention, with the UK having already announced its intention to complete the ratification by the end of 2008. “We are encouraging our member organisations in Europe to push their governments to ratify this Convention and to make sure it is fully enforced. The criminal gangs and the recruiters who organise this trade in human beings must be stopped and punished, and the factors which make people vulnerable to this exploitation must be dealt with. Our global alliance against forced labour and trafficking will mobilise increased trade union action around the world against this form of modern-day slavery.”, said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

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ILO events

• 20 February 2008, Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  Engaging Business: Addressing Forced Labour
  28 April 2008 - On 20 February 2008, the Coca-Cola Company hosted a conference on “Engaging Business: Addressing Forced Labour” at its headquarters in Atlanta. The meeting was sponsored by the U.S. Council for International Business, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the International Organization of Employers, in Cooperation with the International Labour Organization. ...
  • Forced Labor: Critical Issues For US Business Leaders
  • "Engaging Business: Addressing Forced Labor" - AGENDA - [pdf 5268 KB]
• 13 February 2008 - 15 February 2008, Austria Center, Vienna, Austria
  The UN.GIFT Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking
  23 January 2008 - UN.GIFT aims to mobilize state and non-state players to eradicate human trafficking by reducing both the vulnerability of potential victims and the demand for exploitation in all its forms; ensuring adequate protection and support to those who do fall victim, as well as efficient prosecution of the criminals involved. ...
  • ILO action against trafficking in human beings - [pdf 1279 KB]
  • ILO Background Paper "FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING: THE FORCED LABOUR DIMENSIONS"
  • ILO panel on “Supply Chain Management – Eliminating the Risks of Forced Labour and Trafficking”
  • ILO panel on “The Roles of Employers’ Organisations, Businesses and Trade Unions in Combating Trafficking for Labour Exploitation”
  • ILO workshop on “Demand for Forced Labour and Sexual Exploitation – How and Why it Fuels Human Trafficking”
• 05 December 2007 - 06 December 2007, ILO, Geneva
  The role of labour inspectors in combating human trafficking and forced labour in Europe
  15 November 2007 - The meeting serves as a kick-of for ILO’s initiative to strengthen the role of labour inspectors in the national response against forced labour and trafficking. In the framework of this initiative, the ILO is currently developing comprehensive training materials to be used by labour inspectors.
• 30 October 2007, London
  Slavery, Poverty and Social Exclusion - CO/DFID/ILO/ASI high-level Conference
  05 November 2007 - Ministers from the FCO and DFID, in conjunction with the International Labour Organisation and Anti-Slavery International, hold a high-level conference with especially invited representatives of civil society, business, trade unions and international organizations, to examine the relationship between slavery, poverty and social exclusion, including how the fight against poverty and human rights violations can support the elimination of forced labour and slavery, facilitating better linkages between the various sectors which have a role to play in eradicating contemporary forms of slavery and identifying specific actions that can be taken to help reduce slavery.
  • Poverty,Development and the Elimination of Slavery, Anti Slavery International
  • FORCED LABOUR, SLAVERY AND POVERTY REDUCTION: CHALLENGES FOR DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES - [pdf 200 KB]

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