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All the latest news, press releases, advocacy and blogs from Anti-Slavery International.

cotton harvest begins in uzbekistan

Forced labour powered cotton harvest starts

8 September 2015 Press release As the annual cotton harvest in Uzbekistan started last week with renewed concerns that government sponsored system of forced labour will continue this year, Anti-Slavery International has released a two minute animated video explaining the issue. The slavery system has been used grow and… Keep reading »

cotton doodle of uzbekistan cotton harvest

Cotton Crimes doodle video

8 September 2015 Leah Sullivan, Programme Assistant Very few people are interested in, or even know about, human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. Mention fast fashion, sweatshops and labour rights, most people will think of countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia, from where much of our clothes is exported directly to… Keep reading »

Biram Dah Abeid, President of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement

Mauritania condemned for repression of anti-slavery campaigners

25 August 2015 Joint letter condemns Mauritania’s imprisonment of anti-slavery activists. Anti-Slavery International co-signs letter condemning Mauritania’s imprisonment of anti-slavery activists Biram Dah Abeid, President of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement To the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, To the United… Keep reading »

workers in indian brick kiln

India brick kiln briefing

24 August 2015 Why is bonded labour rife in Indian brick kilns? Kate Willingham, International Advocacy Co-ordinator Anti-Slavery International and partners have called for action to be undertaken by the Government of India to tackle bonded labour of adults and children in the brick kiln sector and ensure full… Keep reading »

workers in indian brick kilns

Slavery included in UN development goals

Slavery included in UN development goals: Great news for people in slavery and good victory for Anti-Slavery International By Dr Aidan McQuade, Director The pending inclusion of slavery as a target in the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a victory for a long campaign that Anti-Slavery began… Keep reading »

Parosha Chandran, Image from the US Department of State's Flickr page.

Parosha Chandran a Trafficking in Persons Hero

3 August 2015 By Dr Aidan McQuade, director Image from the US Department of State’s Flickr page. In spite of the controversies that sometimes mar the publication of the US State Department Trafficking in Persons report, one decision made this year is considerably less likely to… Keep reading »

modern slavery act comes into force, image of woman's hand against a mattress

Modern Slavery Act comes into force

31 July 2015 Press release Modern Slavery Act coming into force: ‘Only modest step to eradicate slavery’ say Anti-Slavery International. Anti-Slavery International welcomes the Modern Slavery Act coming into force on Friday 31 July but stressed it is only a modest step to eradicate modern slavery in the country. Keep reading »

cotton crimes trafficking in persons report poster, image of person in forced labour on farm

Uzbekistan: US TiP Report supports forced labour

Press release U.S. decisions on Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in Trafficking in Persons report supports state-sponsored forced labour and fails victims. UZBEKISTAN The U.S. government upgraded the Uzbek government’s ranking in its 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report despite noting that “government-compelled forced labour of adults remains endemic.” The unwarranted decision… Keep reading »

nepali migrant workers on construction site

Protecting the rights of construction workers migrating to Qatar

24 July 2015 Protecting the rights of construction workers migrating to Qatar – new project by Anti-Slavery International By Sarah Mount, South Asia Programme Co-ordinator The exploitation and abuse of thousands of South Asian construction workers in Qatar has been under the spotlight in the last few years, particularly… Keep reading »