The UK Parliament has published its first Modern Slavery
Statement, which outlines the steps it has taken to
understand potential modern slavery risks, and to prevent slavery
and human trafficking within Parliament’s supply chains.
The UK Parliament is committed to tackling modern slavery, and
fully supports the Government’s objectives to eradicate modern
slavery and human trafficking. The Modern Slavery Statement
reinforces this commitment and details the steps Parliament has
taken to ensure that there is no place for such abuse in its
workforce and supply chains. A new statement will be published
each year to report on the progress of work in this area.
Modern slavery is a serious and organised crime that can destroy
communities and cause significant harm to victims. Through the
illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain,
people can be coerced and forced into providing a service to
others. It is a crime that affects people of all ages, genders
and ethnicities, and is a violation of fundamental human rights.
It is estimated that there are approximately 40 million people
living in slavery across the world, many producing the goods and
services bought every day. In 2013, the Home Office estimated
there were over 10 thousand potential victims of modern slavery
in the UK alone. The Walk Free Foundation’s latest Global Slavery
Index, released in July 2018, estimated there were 136,000
victims of modern slavery in the UK. Research has also shown that
the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of the prevalence of
modern slavery.
Parliament is committed to ensuring that taxpayers’ money does
not inadvertently fund this criminal activity and to protecting
vulnerable workers in its own supply chains from exploitation or
harm. The Speakers of both Houses have recognised this work as a
significant area of importance for Parliament.
Parliament’s Modern Slavery Programme was established in 2020 to
drive forward its commitment to tackling modern slavery. An
External Advisory Group has also been set up to work with
Parliament to share best practice and support its continuous
improvement in relation to its work on modern slavery.
Specialists on the group worked with Parliament to inform the
content of the statement.
, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
“Modern day slavery has no place in the House of Commons, our
contracts or supply chains.
“It is an invidious, exploitative crime that preys on the
vulnerable and those who do not have a voice.
“I am very pleased Parliament is taking action to outlaw this
awful practice which damages people and communities. We fully
expect all our suppliers to ensure no stone remains unturned
until they are certain this violation of human rights is
outlawed.”
The Lord Speaker, ,
said:
“Modern slavery is an abhorrent practice. That’s why it’s
right that Parliament’s new policy will work to root it out at
every part of the supply chain and at every level of the
workforce.
“I’m pleased that the House of Lords, working closely
alongside the Commons, will help play its part in helping
eradicate it, by expecting nothing but the highest standards of
practice from our suppliers.”
Chair of the External Advisory Group, said:
“I am very pleased to see the work Parliament has undertaken
to tackle possible slavery in its supply chains. This is a
subject I first raised with Speaker
before the last election, and it is fantastic to see
the work both Houses have done to recognise and address the issue
of modern slavery over the past year. I fully support the work
that has been done so far, and the publication of Parliament’s
first Modern Slavery Statement is an important step in protecting
vulnerable people from being exploited.”
The full statement can be found here. Constructive
feedback on the statement and the work Parliament is undertaking
is welcome and can be shared withmodernslaveryinfo@parliament.uk.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- View the full statement online here
- Parliament will publish a new Modern Slavery Statement each
year to report on its work and progress.
- Constructive feedback on the statement and the work
Parliament is undertaking is welcome. Feedback can be shared with
modernslaveryinfo@parliament.uk.
- The External Advisory Group membership comprises of:
-
-
(Chair)
-
GBE
-
MP
- Patricia Carrier, Business & Human Rights Expert
-
- Professor Genevieve LeBaron, Professor of Politics at the
University of Sheffield
- Peter McAllister, Executive Director of the Ethical
Trading Initiative
- Dr Aidan McQuade, Independent Consultant in Ethical
Leadership
-
MP
-
-
-
-
