Sri Lanka Summit explores newer approaches to Eradicate Modern Slavery

Panel discussion on modern slavery

The Bali Process Government and Business Forum (GABF)– Sri Lanka Summit witnessed the participation of politicians, diplomats, foreign dignitaries and corporate leaders in a bid to exemplify efforts to eradicate human trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery. The GABF provides a strategic platform for collaboration between the private sector and Bali Process Member States to address forced labour and human trafficking challenges. 

According to Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index 2023, an estimated 6.5 in every thousand people were in modern slavery in Sri Lanka at any point in 2021. In other words, 139,000 people experienced forced labour or forced marriage in Sri Lanka in 2021. Walk Free is an international human rights group that has been working to accelerate the end of all forms of modern slavery. The Organisation’s Global Slavery Index presents a detailed picture of modern slavery as it exists across countries and industries today.
 

An effort to make a change 

As a country that has been vulnerable to human trafficking and forced labour, the Summit provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss the way forward in eradicating modern slavery. In his welcome address, Shashi Rajamahendran, Chairman/MD – Capital Maharaja Group acknowledged the presence of delegates from across the globe to make a change to the lives of victims who are being trafficked. He spoke about Gammadda and Sahana Yathra initiatives and how such initiatives have kept them aligned with the Bali process. “We are here for people who can’t be here. Those who have no choice, but to place themselves at great risk just so that they have a chance of survival. This shouldn’t be the way things are and it must change,” he added. 
 

Australia’s commitment to eradicate modern slavery

This year’s Summit discussed how the private sector could champion its efforts to eradicate human trafficking and modern slavery. Lynn Bell, Australia’s Ambassador to Counter Modern Slavery, People Smuggling and Human Trafficking emphasised on the power of business and its potential to improve the lives of workers and families right across the region by providing fair and safe employment and burgeoning employment opportunities. “Governments also play a pivotal role in developing and strengthening legal and policy frameworks and working closely with our partners internationally, leading by example. Successful collaboration to address human trafficking and forced labour takes strong, coordinated, national, regional and global efforts from all stakeholders, be it government, business, law enforcement, academics and civil society. We must be guided by the real experiences of victim-survivors. These crimes cross borders infiltrate our supply chains, impacts members of our own communities and are all too prevalent across the globe. Australia is firmly committed to working with our partners to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute instances of modern slavery,” she added. 

Bell further shed light on cyber and technology-enabled crimes. “Therefore it is important to enhance our collective security and resilience. Trafficking in persons for forced criminality in online scam centres is a significant challenge and the methods used for human trafficking are evolving rapidly with the use of encrypted messaging systems, social media platforms and artificial intelligence,” she said. 

Bell further referred to an amendment made to Modern Slavery Act by establishing Australia’s first Federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner who will help businesses to address the risk of modern slavery practices in operations and supply chains as well as raising community awareness engaging closely with victims and survivors of trafficking and modern slavery practices. “We are working hard regionally through the Bali Process (GABF) to build momentum and help drive real change and real solutions to our shared challenges. Eradicating modern slavery takes persistence, energy and concerted efforts and this Summit is another important step towards that goal,” she underscored. 
 

Govt. urged to  pass laws 

Addressing the Summit, Australian billionaire Dr. Andrew Forrest who also serves as the GABF Business Co-Chair and Fortescue Founder/Executive Chairman mused on previous encounters with Sri Lankans who were trafficked into the Middle East and various parts of the world, living in dire conditions. “With modern slavery, people’s freedom is completely removed. There are around 50 million people living in modern slavery globally and a majority of them include girls and women. Therefore the government should pass the laws for the business fraternity to have a level playing field. That is all that is needed for Sri Lankan businesses to succeed. It is these laws that will protect us. I’m indeed honoured to serve this great cause and it is our responsibility now to drive slavery out of its existence,” he said. 
 

People trafficked on false promises 

Speaking at a panel discussion on how the region has been affected by modern slavery Maj. Gen. Ruwan Kulathunga, Chief of National Intelligence said that the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) was established in 2010 following a cabinet decision and it was under the Ministry of Justice until 2021. “In 2021 this Task Force came under the purview of the Defence Ministry for the purpose of combining intelligence to combat forced labour, human trafficking and modern slavery,” he said. 

Maj. Gen. Ruwan Kulathunga said that the main problem faced by Sri Lankan migrant workers is the illegal trafficking of people to various countries on false promises. “Initially they were trafficked to the Middle East and there were several cases from Oman where we were able to repatriate more than 20 workers including women. Here one of our strongest partners have been the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Sexual exploitation, labour exploitation are quite prevalent when it comes to human trafficking. The most recent trend is where ex-service personnel are now being trafficked to Russian and Ukrainian borders and are being forced to occupy frontline positions. But they were not told about these tasks at the beginning. We now have a huge problem of repatriating them back into the country. But we have come to an agreement where no ex-servicemen from the tri-forces would be taken to the forces in Russia,” he said while adding that the Strategic National Action Plan has been developed on four pillars to combat illegal trafficking including prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership 

The Bali Process is constituted by 45 member countries and four UN agencies. The full-day Summit hosted by the Capital Maharaja Group also included discussions on how the Bali Process business leaders have taken actions to raise awareness and address modern slavery risks, regional perspectives on human rights and global supply chains and what business and government can do to protect migrant workers. 

Successful collaboration to address human trafficking and forced labour takes strong, coordinated, national, regional and global efforts from all stakeholders, be it government, business, law enforcement, academics and civil society. We must be guided by the real experiences of victim-survivors

 - Lynn Bell, Australia’s Ambassador 
to Counter Modern  Slavery, People Smuggling and Human Trafficking

With modern slavery, people’s freedom is completely removed. There are around 50 million people living in modern slavery globally and a majority of them include girls and women. Therefore the government should pass the laws for the business fraternity to have a level playing field

- Dr. Andrew Forrest, GABF Business Co-Chair and Fortescue Founder/Executive Chairman

We are here for people who can’t be here. Those who have no choice, but to place themselves at great risk just so that they have a chance of survival. This shouldn’t be the way things are and it must change

- Shashi Rajamahendran, 
Chairman/MD – Capital Maharaja Group