What can Parliamentarians do ahead of mega sporting events to help prevent Modern Slavery through sport?

That's a really big question, because I think part of it is that we need to raise awareness among parliaments, as I am not convinced that Members are aware of what can drastically go wrong in sport.

I also think it is about MPs checking in their constituencies, particularly those that surround Birmingham, where the Games are taking place, and making sure where possible they can liaise with local authorities who have a responsibility for checking out modern forms of slavery.

As the co-chair of the APPG on Sport, Modern Slavery and Human Rights, what role do you see APPGs playing in eradicating Modern Slavery in the run up to mega sporting events?

The APPG on Sport, Modern Slavery and Human Rights was formed because of a concern that was beginning to grow around the World Cup in Qatar, and other incidents happening in and through sport. Sport and human rights are really under-served, and we are just getting to grips with it. 

With this APPG, the idea is to raise awareness among parliamentarians but also people outside and give a space to people who are engaged with trying to illuminate human rights abuses. We discuss a range of topics that include Modern Slavery and its different forms. It includes human trafficking, supply chain issues with sportswear, sessions on equality, women in sport and racism in sport.

There are a range of activities which the group can cover, but importantly, we must make sure that these abuses are not routinely happening within the form of entertainment that we love.

Why do you think that many countries around the Commonwealth are struggling to tackle Modern Slavery, despite the rising awareness on the issue?

The reason why countries struggle with the issue of Modern Slavery is because it is so huge. When we are talking worldwide, there are 40 million people whose lives are being destroyed by one form of Modern Slavery or another, so it is a huge task to think of, particularly when it happens in virtually every country around the world.

Therefore, legislation needs to be produced, but legislation is no good if you cannot implement it. It then needs to be monitored and made sure that the relevant punishments are ready to hand out. But a lot of it is unseen and hidden away, so it is easier to deal with the most extreme cases that come into view, but not those that are hidden away. For example, forced labour in industries like construction is more covert, where people are hired on a piecemeal basis, on a casual contact, making it harder to keep track of them. The way in which Modern Slavery operates makes it difficult to combat.

The good news, if I can put it that way, is that what works best in my experience, is an alliance and collaboration between Governments, NGOs, businesses and voices in those contexts. Once these groups of people have come together, you can find ways of mitigating the worst aspects of Modern Slavery.

This interview appeared in the the October Issue of the CPA UK Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Newsletter. View the newsletter here.