Statement delivered by at the High-Level
Meeting of the General Assembly on the UNGlobal Plan of Action to
Combat Human Trafficking.
"Hello everyone, and thank you to the President of the General
Assembly for this opportunity to discuss the Global Plan for
Action.
When new global estimates on modern slavery are published, it
will make for difficult reading.
The pandemic has had a devastatingly disproportionate impact on
the most vulnerable and those already victim to modern slavery.
More critically than ever we must make immediate and lasting
progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 to eradicate
this scourge by 2030.
No one nation can do this alone.
In 2017, the UK led the Call to Action to End Forced Labour,
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
Over 90 countries have endorsed that Call to Action, taking a
range of steps, and – crucially - collaborating internationally
with others.
The UK continues to look for opportunities to collaborate, with
governments, businesses, and survivors. It will take us all to
end this menace.
For example, under our Presidency, the leaders of the G7
committed to tackling forced labour global supply chains.
Last month, G7 Trade ministers discussed steps to eradicate
forced labour, protect victims and improve global supply chain
transparency.
Meanwhile our efforts continue earnestly at home.
The UK is strengthening our already world-leading Modern Slavery
Act.
A key focus is to increase transparency in supply chains. We were
the first country globally to require businesses to report on
tackling modern slavery in their operations and global supply
chains.
Other landmark provisions include extending the reporting
requirement to public bodies with a turnover of more than £36
million, as well as mandating that organisations publish their
statements on the government registry.
We will introduce financial penalties for non-compliance under
the Modern Slavery Act.
We also became the first country to publish our own statement,
and later this year we will publish individual statements for
ministerial departments.
Looking ahead, the UK wants to make sure we continue to respond
effectively to these terrible crimes.
For that reason, we are reviewing our modern slavery strategy
now, and will publish a new strategy in Spring 2022.
I would like finish by paying tribute to the survivors of modern
slavery, forced labour and human trafficking.
I urge you all to listen carefully to the most vulnerable in our
societies, and to come together regionally and internationally to
ensure this generation of victims is the last.
Thank you."
