Launch of landmark report on Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery, and Child Exploitation in the Commonwealth draws Nobel Laureate and UN slavery expert

The report ‘Creating an effective coalition to achieve SDG8.7,’ is addressed to the 53 Commonwealth Heads of Government, including Cyril Ramaphosa, Theresa May, Nahendra Modi, Justin Trudeau, and Malcolm Turnbull coming together for the Commonwealth Summit in London from 16th – 20th April.

Download a copy of the report, HERE.

The report was published by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), and can be downloaded from http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/content/sdg87 

Speaking at the launch Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi issued an impassioned rallying-cry to Commonwealth leaders stating ‘the denial of the right to dream is the biggest possible human rights abuse!’

Urmila Bhoola, UN rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery called for action at CHOGM saying that action by Commonwealth Heads of Government was the ‘expectation of citizens throughout the Commonwealth’ and called CHOGM 2018 ‘an important opportunity for the Commonwealth to make history as a leading body in the anti-slavery movement.’

The Summit, hosted by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace and Winsor Castle, brings together 53 Heads of Government, business leaders, and civil society.

The report’s author David White, Director of CHRI’s London office, commented:

“Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings can be defining moments in Commonwealth history. 1971 is remembered for the Singapore Declaration, the 1991 for the Harare Declaration, 1995 for the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Plan.

What better legacy could next week’s Commonwealth Summit leave than serious and lasting action against slavery?”

CHRI is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation. For 30 years, CHRI has worked for the practical realisation of human rights across the Commonwealth. It is accredited to the Commonwealth Secretariat, has special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and observer status at the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.

The launch was held at the National Liberal Club, London at 17:30 on Friday 13th April.