Statement by: David Hamer, Adviser, Australian Mission to the UN
As delivered

Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report.

We welcome its focus on the influence of rapid technological advancements on all forms of modern slavery, including human trafficking, forced labour and forced marriage.

Australia strongly supports the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation that legislative and policy responses to modern slavery are developed in consultation with all stakeholders, including survivors themselves.

In June, the Australian Government hosted a Modern Slavery Conference, which included 500 participants from government, law enforcement, civil society, academia, the private sector and survivor advocates to bolster cross-sector collaboration and action on modern slavery.

A key area of focus during the Conference was on the role of technology— specifically social media and other online spaces—as both an enabler, and means of helping prevent, modern slavery.

Australia was pleased to also welcome representatives of the governments of Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to this Conference, recognising that no one country can solve these crimes alone.

And regional cooperation is critical.

Australia continues to work closely with regional partners to strengthen efforts to address the use of technology to facilitate modern slavery, and embrace it as a tool for prevention.

We are proud to Co-chair, with Indonesia, the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crimes - a unique grouping for deepening and strengthening regional responses to these serious issues.

This year we welcomed the strong commitment of Bali Process member states to the 2023 Adelaide Strategy for Cooperation, which includes activities to tackle the misuse of technology to enable modern slavery.

We note the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation to strengthen collaboration with technology companies.

Australia asks: what examples could he share of where governments are working effectively with technology companies to drive advocacy and action, and enhance information sharing, to combat modern slavery in online spaces?