NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, launched his strategic plan “Working Together for Real Freedom” at NSW Parliament House yesterday.

John McCarthy KC, former Australian Ambassador to the Holy See and prominent anti-slavery advocate with the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, has welcomed the 30 recommendations contained in the Report of the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) The first three years - A report by Professor John McMillan AO.

The Global Slavery Index 2023 (GSI) published yesterday indicates that the number of people estimated to be experiencing modern slavery has risen by 10 million since the last report in 2018.

The Australian Government has expanded its response to modern slavery by additional funding measures included in the Commonwealth Budget 2023 – 2024.

Modern slavery survivor Moe Turaga was presented with a 2023 Freedom Award in recognition of his work as a modern slavery survivor advocate last weekend.

The Australian Catholic Anti-slavery Network (ACAN) was represented at an event convened by the Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP yesterday to mark the 10th anniversary of royal assent of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Bill.

ACAN adds its voice to introduce better protections and pathways to seek remedy for people on temporary visas who experience exploitation in Australia.

All undergraduate students at Australian Catholic University (ACU) will complete training to identify and respond to modern slavery following a pilot project with the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Today Catholics around the world are marking the Feast Day Mass of St Josephine Bakhita - the Patron Saint of South Sudan and Sudan, and the Patron Saint of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.

Catholic Health Australia is calling on the Australian Government to establish an independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner as part of reforms to improve the Modern Slavery Act 2018.

These webinars are a result of modern slavery risk analysis conducted across $8 billion of Catholic procurement in health care, education, community and financial services.

I see immense hope and light radiating from our young people who have also grappled with darkness in their lifetime. And yet, they are leading the way in areas where we have not always done well.

My name is Moe Turaga, and I am a survivor. I am here to say “Slavery is Cruel”, and my call to action is ‘Let’s put an end to it!’

Today is United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

The Australian Catholic Anti-slavery Network (ACAN) made an important submission to government this week in relation to a Review of the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act (MSA) 2018.

An address from John McCarthy KC on the Catholic Schools response to the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018.

Medical glove maker Ansell is defending claims of knowingly profiting from forced labour in Malaysia. Thirteen workers are suing the company and Kimberly-Clark in a US court.

ACAN entities were joined by academics, police, unions and colleagues from the mining, energy, building, shipping and other sectors at a modern slavery networking event hosted by Mills Oakley (MO) Lawyers in Brisbane.

Some decades ago I had my first day at a real job, article clerk to a prominent liquor licensing lawyer. I inherited for a year the desk outside his office, full of files on the layout of bars and restaurants. I was not sure this is what called me to the law…

This morning tea was hosted by Sydney Catholic Schools with The Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop of Sydney, in recognition of United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.