Help End Forced Labour!
- by: Walk Free
- recipient: Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vincent Cable
84 years ago Charlie Chaplin was at the height of his career, 84 years ago the very notion of a computer or instant coffee was pure science fiction. 84 years ago forced labour was still legal in at least 20 countries and an international law was established to end this horrific practice.
But the world has changed since then. Now 84 years later, we finally have a chance to update this law to protect against today's forced labour.
The International Labour Organisation has just released two options to update this law, but only one will work. In just a few weeks every country will have a choice between weak, unenforceable guidelines and a strong new law.
Call on the United Kingdom to vote for strong protections from modern slavery.
We don't know how each country will vote, but we do know that together we can help influence meaningful change. Our movement has already won battles for new anti-slavery laws, and we must do it again.
With 29.8 million people trapped in modern slavery across the world the need for strong international standards has never been greater.
Take action today to end forced labour!
But the world has changed since then. Now 84 years later, we finally have a chance to update this law to protect against today's forced labour.
The International Labour Organisation has just released two options to update this law, but only one will work. In just a few weeks every country will have a choice between weak, unenforceable guidelines and a strong new law.
Call on the United Kingdom to vote for strong protections from modern slavery.
We don't know how each country will vote, but we do know that together we can help influence meaningful change. Our movement has already won battles for new anti-slavery laws, and we must do it again.
With 29.8 million people trapped in modern slavery across the world the need for strong international standards has never been greater.
Take action today to end forced labour!
To Secretary Cable,
In recent decades, forced labour has risen to an alarming level, more than ever before in history. The presence of forced labour in the 21st century is morally unacceptable and shames us all. Forced labour and services generate a minimum of 44 billion USD in illicit global annual profits, disrupting economies and challenging the rule of law everywhere.
The United Kingdom is not an exception.
New forms of forced labour, including human trafficking, require updating existing international regulation. International law on the matter is over eighty years old. Unlike in the 1930’s, contemporary forced labour is mainly found in the private sector, in households
and local and multinational companies. While the global labour market is rapidly developing and changing its nature, the ILO Forced Labour Convention N° 29 (C29) provides insufficient tools to governments to detect and prevent contemporary forced
labour, protect workers and effectively compensate victims.
After years of campaigning, the ILO Governing Body has finally decided to place a standard-setting item entitled “Supplementing the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (N° 29)…” on the agenda of the 103rd Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), with a view to the adoption of a Protocol and/or Recommendation. The ILC will take place in Geneva between May, 28th and June, 12th this year.
The stakes are high. A proposed Protocol and/or Recommendation, developed by international legal experts on the basis of information from ILO’s tripartite constituents, are up for discussion and adoption. However, only a Protocol is an international treaty - linked to a Convention and subject to ratification - which can partially revise or supplement ILO
Convention N° 29.
Only a Protocol will allow adapting Convention N° 29 to changing
conditions on contemporary labour markets, making it more relevant, effective and up to date. When adopted, the new instruments will significantly increase global policy coherence and thus facilitate the urgent action needed between and within countries to detect and prevent forced labour, protect workers, compensate victims and punish exploiters around the globe.
As a citizen of the United Kingdom, committed to social justice and human rights, I ask that you, Secretary Cable, foster at the level of our national government, the inescapable need for a strong Protocol to the ILO Forced Labour Convention N° 29, supplemented by a Recommendation, and to press our country’s representatives at the ILC to vote in favour of these two, inseparable, new tools at the upcoming ILC.
In response to the ILO questionnaire, half of the ILO Members States have already expressed their support for the Protocol and Recommendation. Every additional country’s support is crucial.
This is a historic and unique opportunity to demonstrate your leadership to strengthen global action to stop forced labour.
I hope I can count on you to make forced labour history.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionIn recent decades, forced labour has risen to an alarming level, more than ever before in history. The presence of forced labour in the 21st century is morally unacceptable and shames us all. Forced labour and services generate a minimum of 44 billion USD in illicit global annual profits, disrupting economies and challenging the rule of law everywhere.
The United Kingdom is not an exception.
New forms of forced labour, including human trafficking, require updating existing international regulation. International law on the matter is over eighty years old. Unlike in the 1930’s, contemporary forced labour is mainly found in the private sector, in households
and local and multinational companies. While the global labour market is rapidly developing and changing its nature, the ILO Forced Labour Convention N° 29 (C29) provides insufficient tools to governments to detect and prevent contemporary forced
labour, protect workers and effectively compensate victims.
After years of campaigning, the ILO Governing Body has finally decided to place a standard-setting item entitled “Supplementing the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (N° 29)…” on the agenda of the 103rd Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), with a view to the adoption of a Protocol and/or Recommendation. The ILC will take place in Geneva between May, 28th and June, 12th this year.
The stakes are high. A proposed Protocol and/or Recommendation, developed by international legal experts on the basis of information from ILO’s tripartite constituents, are up for discussion and adoption. However, only a Protocol is an international treaty - linked to a Convention and subject to ratification - which can partially revise or supplement ILO
Convention N° 29.
Only a Protocol will allow adapting Convention N° 29 to changing
conditions on contemporary labour markets, making it more relevant, effective and up to date. When adopted, the new instruments will significantly increase global policy coherence and thus facilitate the urgent action needed between and within countries to detect and prevent forced labour, protect workers, compensate victims and punish exploiters around the globe.
As a citizen of the United Kingdom, committed to social justice and human rights, I ask that you, Secretary Cable, foster at the level of our national government, the inescapable need for a strong Protocol to the ILO Forced Labour Convention N° 29, supplemented by a Recommendation, and to press our country’s representatives at the ILC to vote in favour of these two, inseparable, new tools at the upcoming ILC.
In response to the ILO questionnaire, half of the ILO Members States have already expressed their support for the Protocol and Recommendation. Every additional country’s support is crucial.
This is a historic and unique opportunity to demonstrate your leadership to strengthen global action to stop forced labour.
I hope I can count on you to make forced labour history.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
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