The Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (Commission) has met in Kenya, to understand the impact of modern slavery and human trafficking on Kenyans and people across the region, and to learn how local organisations are helping to eradicate the practice and protect those most vulnerable.
To build an in-depth geographical perspective of the issue in Kenya and the wider region, the Commission met with African representatives, civil society organisations and survivors to better understand the issue as well as convene the second meeting of the Commission since it launched in October 2023.
The Commission, which is chaired by former UK Prime Minister, Rt Hon Theresa May was established to urgently raise the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking tpolitical agenda to get the world back on track towards eradication of the issue by 2030.
According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 5 in every thousand people were in modern slavery in Kenya during 2021. This translates to 269,0001 people who experienced forced labour or marriage, ranking Kenya 88th globally in terms of prevalence of modern slavery.
Alarmingly, more people are experiencing modern slavery and trafficking around the world every year, with the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery report revealing a rise of 10 million people forced to work or marry since 2016 – bringing the estimate of people around the world currently living in modern slavery to 50 million.
During their time in Nairobi, Commissioners visited Maisha Safe House, an organisation with a mission to reach out, receive and protect girls in the most vulnerable situations, providing shelter, safety and opportunities. Survivors are an integral part of the Commission’s leadership and governance, and the perspectives of people with lived experience are heavily embedded into all of their work. The visit to Maisha Safe House enabled Commissioners to understand the challenges faced by both survivors and organisations and provided an opportunity to have grassroots insights to inform work going forward.
The Commission also held meetings with representatives of 17 African nations, 27 civil society organisations, and people with lived experience, to understand the effect of conflict and the civil society response in situations, forced labour in supply chains, and gain a regional perspective to inform an approach towards tackling the issue.
Former UK Prime Minster, the Right Honourable Theresa May, said:
“More people are experiencing modern slavery and trafficking around the world every year because of the increase in geo-political and economic volatility, conflict and climate change. Modern slavery and human trafficking affect people in every country of the world including Kenya and it is vital to understand the particular challenges being faced in the region from both a government and civil society perspective.
“Progress towards eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking is falling alarmingly short of global ambitions. The Commission aims to ensure governments give the issue priority by making ambitious recommendations for change informed by the perspectives and experiences of experts and survivors across the global community”.
With the support of the Kenyan government, the Commission is exploring how the international community can reverse the recent and alarming increase in modern slavery and human trafficking.
Joseph Motari, the Kenyan Principal Secretary for Social Protection & Senior Citizen Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection said:
“Eradicating Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking is a high priority issue for the Kenyan Government, and we have taken steps to implement ethical recruitment practices and reporting.”
The enactment of the Counter Trafficking in Persons Act marked a significant milestone in our legislative efforts to fight trafficking in persons. This comprehensive law has provided a robust legal basis for prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, and preventing trafficking. The Act has some of the most punitive penalties for traffickers in the region. Other notable laws in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking include the Children Act, the Sexual Offences Act and the Labour Act.”
We have also established a national assistance trust fund to support victims of trafficking’s rescue, return and reintegration. The government also established specialized units within the Police service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to tackle the investigation and prosecution of trafficking in persons’ cases.”
“We are committed to working with the Commission to accelerating progress towards the ambition of eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking by 2030.”
Sophie Otiende – CEO Global Fund to End Modern Slavery and Founder of Azadi Community, said:
“As both a Kenyan and protection practitioner it is my mission to raise the profile of the challenge and work with local organisations in Kenya to protect those most vulnerable. As a survivor leader, I also strive to make sure that incorporation of the people who are most impacted by this issue remains a key goal.”
“The Commission is proud to see representatives from the Kenyan government and leaders from across the region come together to create progress towards eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking. Collective action from the international community is how we ensure that the vulnerable in our society are protected from a life of suffering and subjugation”.
Florence Keya from Maisha Safe House, said: ‘We see the impact of modern slavery and human trafficking on young girls, which is hidden from plain sight – especially young girls in domestic work. More needs to be done globally and collectively to eradicate what is becoming growing and urgent issue.”
“The Global Commission’s work is integral to combatting the growing prevalence of modern slavery and human trafficking; by visiting Maisha Girls Safe House, embedding and representing survivors with lived experience into all of their work, the Global Commission can better understand how to make tangible change and progress, and help save the lives of thousands of people”.
The Commission is committed to responding to the challenge of eradicating Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking by engaging governments, international organisations, businesses, civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations to get the world back on track towards eradication by 2030. The Commission has three clear objectives:
To build and mobilise the evidence and knowledge base needed to support global efforts to eradicate modern slavery
To promote and facilitate international collaborations and partnerships between states, multi-lateral organisations, civil society, businesses, researchers and people with lived experience as well as between global, regional and national levels
The Commission will publish its initial report by spring 2025, which the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has agreed to receive, and will continue to drive momentum from the international community to focus effort and support on the most vulnerable in our society to save them from a life of suffering and subjugation.
The Global Estimates of Modern Slavery report, authored by the ILO, Walk Free and the International Organization for Migration, found that there has been an increase of 10 million people being forced to work or marry since 2016 – bringing the estimate of people around the world currently living in modern slavery to 50 million.
In SDG 8.7 the international community has committed to “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.”
