Modern slavery is all around us – 40 million men, women and children worldwide currently denied their basic freedom. And as our planet warms up – it’s getting worse.
Climate change is having a monumental impact on the world’s most impoverished and marginalised people. As climate-induced disasters continue to tear vulnerable communities apart and force people to migrate, countless people are losing their homes, their livelihoods and their freedoms.
Drought, flooding and pollution of water sources mean that those who are already in vulnerable situations due to conflict and crippling poverty are now being forced from their homes in search of shelter and work. They’re then finding themselves increasingly vulnerable to traffickers and can be pushed into forced labour and sexual exploitation.
By 2050, more than 143 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America will have been forced from their homes as a result of climate change.
We need to tackle this issue head on – and urgently. We need the world to hear: climate change is a human crisis. There is an urgent need to recognise that millions of people displaced by climate change are being, and will be, exposed to slavery in the coming decades.
Here at Anti-Slavery International, we’re working globally to highlight the link between climate change and modern slavery and protect vulnerable communities.
We’ve published critical research on the vicious cycle of climate change and modern slavery and shown how climate-induced migration is leading people into slavery and exploitation.
As world leaders prepare to discuss the human impact of climate change at COP26 next month, the time is now to jointly address human rights, the environment and climate change. The time is now to take action and raise critical awareness.
We’re leading discussions, providing crucial recommendations for global bodies and helping communities to become resilient. Will you help us?
Take action today
This Anti-Slavery Day, as the climate crisis worsens, we call on you to join us in the fight against slavery. You can make a critical difference.
Here’s how:
1. Raise awareness:
Spread the message among your networks that climate change is a human crisis.
Raising awareness on the link between climate change and vulnerability to modern slavery is critically important and you can help us spread the word.
Tweet our GIF (above) and let the world know that we urgently need to protect communities in vulnerable situations. Don’t forget to tag us at @Anti_Slavery!
2. Seek advice:
If you’re a business operating in the UK or worldwide, get in touch to see how we can help you identify the risks of slavery practices in your supply chains.
We devise effective responses to address the issue of modern slavery in supply chains and stand as a ‘critical friend’ to encourage businesses in the UK to go beyond compliance with the Modern Slavery Act.
We can help you improve on-the-ground sourcing practices, identifying risk areas and taking steps to prevent exploitation.
3. Support our work:
Join the movement to end modern slavery.
In Niger, we’ve built schools and projects for communities that escaped their traditional masters. In Mauritania, we’ve provided education and microloans to women rebuilding their lives in freedom and in Senegal, we’ve been working with whole communities to protect children from local schools from being forced to beg.
This is all down to the help of our supporters and the incredible partners that we work with.
If you believe that every human should be free to live their lives and make their own choices, join us today.
If you’re not able to join today, please consider making a donation to support our work.
We won’t stop until everyone’s free.