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Slavery News Weekly: 20 April 2017

April 20, 2017 / Media, Slavery News Weekly The Freedom Fund / @freedom_fund

Each week the Freedom Fund compiles the most insightful and timely news stories about modern slavery. Check out what we’re reading among this week’s top slavery articles.

Slavery laws would force Australian fashion labels to be more ethical – report
The Guardian, 19 April 17
Introducing modern slavery laws would force Australian clothing companies to clean up their supply chains, said the authors of the annual Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report. The report found that none of the surveyed companies could guarantee that everyone who worked along their supply chain was paid a living wage.

Human trafficking’s high toll on homeless youth
U.S. News & World Report, 17 April 2017
In the U.S. and Canada, nearly one-fifth of homeless youth are victims of human trafficking, according to new studies from the University of Pennsylvania and Loyola University New Orleans. Of the 911 homeless young adults interviewed – the largest-ever combined sample to date – about 20 percent reported being trafficked for sex, labour or both.

Health-care workers learning to combat the ‘epidemic’ of human trafficking
CBC News, 15 April 2017
Most human trafficking victims will need health care at some point in their exploitation, suffering from emotional trauma, physical and sexual abuse. Efforts are underway to educate health professionals about how to identify patients who have been trafficked and connect them with the services they need.

Apple, Intel Carry on as SEC Relaxes Conflict Minerals Scrutiny
Bloomberg BNA, 13 April 2017
Relaxed regulatory scrutiny won’t stop companies like Apple Inc. and Intel Corp. from reporting as usual next month about efforts to keep minerals that fund conflict in Africa from ending up in computer chips, jewelry and other products. Intel’s work to become a ‘conflict-free’ company started before the Dodd-Frank Act mandated reporting, and the company says it will carry on regardless of regulation. Apple, one of the first companies to map its mineral supply chain from manufacturing to the smelter level, made a similar pledge, as did Tiffany & Co.

HRW urges Lebanon to pass bill ending child marriage
The New Arab, 12 April 2017
Human Rights Watch called on the Lebanese government to quickly pass a law to end child marriage in the country through introducing a minimum age requirement at 18. A draft law to set the marriage at 18 was introduced in Lebanon last month but awaits approval. The New York-based watchdog said tackling child marriage is a strategic way to advance women’s rights and empower them.


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For more news and updates about the Freedom Fund, visit our Newsroom. You can also view issues of our monthly slavery research bulletin here.

Do you have a story you’d like to see featured in our roundup? Submit articles at [email protected].