The ‘Measurement, Action, Freedom’ report, launched today by Minderoo Foundation’s Walk Free initiative, finds more needs to be done to spur action and hold governments to account through an agreed set of measurement indicators on all forms of modern slavery

 

‘Measurement, Action, Freedom’ provides an independent assessment of 183 governments and their responses to the exploitation of the 40.3 million people in modern slavery. It finds that governments are not on track to eradicate modern slavery and achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 by 2030.

 

Dame Sara Thornton, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said:

“The agreement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the heart of the UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development showed that governments recognised the need to work in partnership to reduce inequality and build a more sustainable world for future generations.

The inclusion of SDG 8.7 – to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking, and end child labour – was heralded as a critical step to tackle a global issue which knows no borders. However, there has been real concern over the progress made to achieve this aim.

Andrew Forrest, the founder of Walk Free which today launched the report 'Measurement, Action, Freedom', has said “At the current rate of progress, achieving SDG 8.7 by 2030 is impossible”. 'Measurement, Action, Freedom' points to the lack of government accountability to track progress of 8.7 and calls for an agreed set of measurement indicators on all forms of modern slavery. 

Governments around the world are making some progress to tackle modern slavery domestically, as seen by the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 and Australia’s Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018. However, I support Walk Free’s efforts to spur on government action and force focus to deliver genuine progress in the eradication of modern slavery and human trafficking.”

 Read more about Walk Free's project, Measurement, Action, Freedom.