The feature film, Amazing Grace,
chronicles William Wilberforce's struggle to outlaw the slave trade in England
at a time when it was a mainstay of the British economy. The film serves as
a powerful reminder of the potential we all have to be catalysts for social
change.
Slavery thrives in Australia 200 years
after Abolition
20 March, 2007 – Sydney. On Sunday, 25 March,
communities across the globe celebrated Freedom Day,
the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic
Slave Trade Act
Collateral Damage:
The Impact of Anti-Trafficking Measures
on Human Rights Around the World
During the week of October 1 2007, The
Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) global research report
(titled ‘Collateral Damage: The Impact of Anti-Trafficking Measures
on Human Rights Around the World’) was launched in Australia. At events
in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne discussion followed on issues from the
Australia chapter of the report, and focussed on key issues highlighted in
the report such as:
The effects of linking victim assistance to cooperation
with law enforcement
Abuse of the Temporary Business (Long Stay) Visa (subclass
457) and its potential for labour trafficking
Expanding the scope of investigations of trafficking outside
of the sex industry to other labour sectors
Reforming the trafficking victim visa framework
Improving support for victims
Collateral Damage assesses the human
rights repercussions of government policies and anti-trafficking initiatives
on trafficked persons, migrant workers and sex workers. The report
considers the experiences of eight countries: Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Brazil, India, Nigeria, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. It
is the first report to focus not only on ‘victims of trafficking,’
but on ‘victims of anti-trafficking’ as well. Overall, it
establishes that, across the eight countries reviewed, measures designed to
prevent trafficking in human beings have caused substantial
‘collateral damage’ to the very people intended to benefit from
their existence: trafficked persons, migrant workers and women. It also
identifies some key steps for advancing a human rights response to human trafficking.
ASP press release on 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report
The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
(US State Department) released its 2006 annual report on Trafficking in Persons.
A Community-Based Solution to Ending Slavery and
Human Trafficking
The Community
Law Centre at the University of Technology, Sydney, has been
providing direct assistance to trafficked and enslaved persons since 2004
and now sponsors the Anti-Slavery Project (ASP). ASP is dedicated
to eliminating slavery in all of its forms through a range of direct
service and advocacy programs. Collaboration is a core value
at ASP and we are committed to engaging a broad audience of client,
community and government stakeholders in activities aimed at ending
violence, exploitation and injustice.
Promote a human rights
response that prioritises the needs and concerns of survivors
Improve and expand legal protections and benefits
for survivors
Ensure delivery of comprehensive and culturally
appropriate human services to survivors
Increase collaboration between community and
government agencies to effectively address slavery and human trafficking
crimes
Mobilize public awareness and support for survivors
Strengthen the institutional and community
response to slavery and human trafficking
Empower survivors to act as agents of social
change
Our Activities
Advocacy for a social justice and human rights
policy approach to address slavery and human trafficking
Sydney Community Response Network to assist
survivors and build capacity
Comprehensive legal services including criminal,
immigration, civil, labour and family law
Skills-based practical training on slavery
and human trafficking issues
Outreach, education and media advocacy
Research on the patterns and practices of slavery
and human trafficking in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region
Anti-Slavery Project, University of
Technology Sydney
Faculty of Law, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007 AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61-2-9514 9662 Fax: +61-2-9514 9685
