The Global Slavery Index 2023

Executive Summary (Part 5)

​Recommendations
1.Governments and the international community must recognise and respond to modern slavery as an intersectional issue. 
Embed modern slavery responses in humanitarian responses, including by providing training for humanitarian actors. 
 
Strengthen social protection and safety nets so vulnerable communities are more resilient to shocks, including addressing discrimination of people who belong to multiple marginalised groups, such as those related to religious beliefs, ethnicity, race, caste, sexual identity, or gender expression. 
 
Ensure that human rights, including right to freedom from forced labour and from other forms of modern slavery, are embedded in efforts to build a green economy to respond to the climate crisis. 
 
2.Governments must focus on prevention and protection for those already vulnerable. 
Increase access to primary and secondary school education for
all children and particularly girls. These programs should focus on those most at risk of not receiving an education, such as girls in conflict zones, people with disabilities, or those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. 
 
Ensure survivor support services, including shelters, crisis support centres, and community-based protection. Cover all populations — including males, adults, and migrants — and make available specialised support for children. 
 
Strengthen efforts to protect vulnerable populations on the move by repealing hostile migration policies that place national security above human rights, expanding the provision of safe and regular migration pathways, and by screening asylum seekers and irregular migrants for modern slavery indicators, regardless of how they arrived in the country. 
 
3.Governments must ensure effective civil and criminal protections in legislation to tackle forced and child marriage. 
Raise the legal age of marriage to 18 without exceptions, criminalise the act of marrying someone who does not consent, regardless of age, and provide civil protections that allow survivors to choose which solution best suits their needs, as not all wish to pursue criminal actions, particularly when it can involve bringing an action against family members. 
 
Provide trauma-informed protection measures for survivors of forced marriage, including safe accommodation, emergency funds, and psychosocial support. 
 
Tackle underlying drivers of forced marriage, including engaging with communities to subvert harmful patriarchal norms and amending gender discriminatory legislation. 
 
Walk Free 2023. Global Slavery Index 2023. Minderoo Foundation Ltd. Australia.