The Modern Slavery Project (MSP) Phase 1 ran from October 2016 – October 2018. The project aimed to share lessons learnt from the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 and provide support to international legislators and officials to strengthen domestic legislation.

Overview:

• Regional Workshop for Asia Pacific Region, April 2017. Attended by 30 parliamentarians and six clerks from six countries. Resulted in pledges by participants to work on modern slavery.
• Regional Workshop for Africa Region, July 2017. Attended by 23 parliamentarians and 10 clerks from six African countries, as well as 3 parliamentarians from the UK. Resulted in pledges by participants to work on modern slavery.
• Legislative Drafting Seminar (LDS), December 2017. Attended by 23 parliamentarians and legislative drafters from seven countries. Resulted in bespoke plans for strengthening legislation in each country.
• e-Handbook on Legislating against Modern Slavery published and Online Portal launched in June 2018. The e-Handbook contains practical advice on passing modern slavery-related legislations. It includes information from 73 contributors, including 15 Commonwealth parliamentarians from nine countries, as well as government agencies, NGOs and legal experts.

Legislation supported in Nigeria, Pakistan and Uganda:

• Nigeria: Following the LDS, Nigerian parliamentarians proposed draft amendments to anti-trafficking legislation with input from the project’s expert legal advisor. A CPA UK delegation led by Kate Osamor MP visited Nigeria in October 2018 to build support for the legislation. The Bill was introduced on 6 November 2018.
• Pakistan: The project’s expert legal advisor commented on a draft anti-trafficking Bill. This was introduced as a private member’s bill in early 2018. Ultimately, the government introduced its own legislation and passed it in May 2018.
• Uganda: A CPA UK delegation led by David Hanson MP visited Uganda to provide technical and strategic advice to draft legislation prepared by parliamentarians. It is expected to be introduced as a private member’s bill in November 2018.

Beginning of Phase 2:

Phase 2 of the Modern Slavery Project is currently underway and aims to build on the achievements of Phase 1 by supporting parliamentarians to strengthen anti-slavery-related legislation, advocate against slavery in their constituencies and with colleagues in parliament, and scrutinise government anti-slavery efforts through effective committees.