Politics of anti-modern slavery

Honduras

Implementing anti-human trafficking legislation in Honduras

GPG’s work with the Honduran Congress focused on the effectiveness and implementation of anti-human trafficking legislation in the country. We supported two Congressional committees – the Family, Children, Youth and Older Persons Committee, and the Justice and Human Rights Committee – to develop and implement post-legislative scrutiny (PLS) and follow up techniques.

Our work consisted in enabling the Honduran Congress to improve the implementation of the 2012 Law Against Human Trafficking, which resulted in a significant increase in public funding for agencies tasked with implementing the law. GPG’s project team introduced the concept of PLS and guided an inquiry process, focusing on building capacity around planning, consultation and coordination within the Congress. In doing so we worked closely with the Interinstitutional Committee against Sexual Exploitation in Children (CICESCT), a Honduran interagency commission with a mandate for monitoring the implementation of the human trafficking legislation in the country.

Sudan

Anti-modern slavery in Sudan

In Sudan, GPG has been working to support Sudan’s approach to combatting human trafficking at the international, national, and sub-national level. GPG has been working with the National Committee to Counter Trafficking (NCCT) within the Ministry of Justice in Sudan to support their efforts in tackling this issue and pushing human trafficking as a priority human rights issue in the ‘New Sudan’ agenda. The work with the NCCT has focused on identifying the challenges on the current 2014 Combatting of Human Trafficking Act and supporting the creation of a subcommittee within the NCCT dedicated to do review of the legislation and ensure its effectiveness. GPG has also focused on supporting the NCCT efforts to coordinate with states on their response to trafficking, as well as the reporting requirements the NCCT faces as the highest institution responsible for the country’s work to combat human trafficking.

Investigating the impacts of Covid19 on human trafficking

More recently, GPG partnered with Rights Lab, RUSI, and Waging Peace on an essential project investigating the impact of Covid–19 on human trafficking in Sudan and the wider Horn of Africa region. We interviewed high-level practitioners as well as political and academic figures working on human trafficking in Sudan. The findings of these interviews conducted by us and our partners provide insight to continue combatting modern slavery in the region. You can find the report in full here.

Regional events and networks

Establishing a regional approach to human trafficking 

GPG held a virtual conference on 9 June 2020 entitled ‘Establishing a regional approach to human trafficking’. GPG’s first online conference proved that adaptability to fast-changing circumstances can create opportunities for dialogue and strategy across borders You may watch it in full on YouTube.  

Our line-up of speakers included:  

• Dame Sara Thornton DBE QPM, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner  
• Ausamah Al-Absi, Chief Executive at the Labour Market Regulatory Authority of Bahrain  
• Alistair Burt, Former Minister at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office  
• H.E. Siham Osman, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Justice for Sudan and Chair of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking  
• Stephen Twigg, Former MP and Chair of the International Development Select Committee in the UK House of Commons (Chair)   

Preventing growth in the trafficking of women and girls during COVID-19 and its aftermath

GPG held a second virtual conference on 6 October 2020, this time entitled ‘Preventing growth in the trafficking of women and girls during COVID-19 and its aftermath’. This event focused on the ways in which states can counter the negative effects of the pandemic and its impact on human trafficking victims, particularly women and girls. You can watch it in full on YouTube.

Our panel of speakers included:

• Vicky Brotherton, Head of Policy Engagement and Impact for the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham
• Dr. Helen McCabe, Law and Policy Programme at the University of Nottingham
• Mohammed El Zarkani, IOM Bahrain
• Maha Azrag, Sudan Ministry of Justice, National Committee to Counter Trafficking
• Hon Jared Okello, MP National Assembly of Kenya
• Chair: Lord Jeremy Purvis Of Tweed, GPG Associate and former member of the Scottish Parliament