News & Updates

Reform Newsletter-Modern Slavery Bill June 22

Posted on

The Home Office’s Modern Slavery Fund was set up in 2016 to reduce the prevalence of modern slavery in the UK and overseas. It has since funded a number of projects to strengthen efforts to pursue traffickers, protect victims and prevent people from being trafficked in the first place, particularly in countries from where high numbers of people are trafficked to the UK.

It also includes the Modern Slavery Innovation Fund, which has trialled new approaches to build the evidence base on what works to tackle modern slavery globally. In its most recent phase, eight projects ran until March 2022 covering a range of themes from improving transparency in supply chains and securing workers’ rights, to generating more reliable research on the impacts of stigma on modern slavery.   We recently conducted a review of the Modern Slavery Fund portfolio from 2019 to 2021. The review was led by independent experts, and assessed successes and lessons learned so far to make a series of recommendations on how we can strengthen our work in future. This review is now available online at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/modern-slavery#research-and-publications .  

The independent review found the fund had genuinely addressed the drivers of modern slavery, rather than just treating their symptoms. It also highlighted that the Fund has had the following overall results: Provided direct support to over 2,500 victims of trafficking. This includes shelter, healthcare, access to justice, and support to enter sustainable employment. This reduces the risk of people being re-trafficked (including to the UK) and helps to break cycles of exploitation. Enabled over 4,000 policy, law enforcement and other first responding officials to better identify, respond effectively to, and eventually prevent, cases of modern slavery. Improved transparency in supply chains by supporting over 200 businesses worldwide to ensure workers are fairly treated; this will have positive implications for thousands of workers and consumers, both in the UK and overseas.  Helped to prevent modern slavery by conducting targeted outreach work with over 180,000 vulnerable people; and reaching at least 1.5 million people through strategic communications. These prevention activities include helping young people secure safe and sustainable employment, informing workers of their rights, and raising awareness of the risks of exploitation. Secured political commitments and ensured sustainable change by supporting development 35 different anti-trafficking policies.