"Combatting modern slavery: will Canada rise to the occasion in 2021?"

This year is the right time for Canada to recommit its stance against modern slavery. It is time for Canada to walk the talk and offer genuine leadership and collective action on this ever-growing human rights problem... In November, steps were taken in Canada to enact a Modern Slavery Act (MSA) and amend the Customs Tariff, currently known as Bill S-216. This third attempt at the MSA was introduced in the Canadian Senate and aims to implement Canada’s international commitments to contribute to the fight against modern slavery, with a particular focus on forced labour and child labour.

... Given the complex causes and manifestations of modern slavery, and its interconnection with other rights violations, a successful strategy for eradication should not make abolition an end in itself. Campaigning and working to end it can also serve to highlight wider exploitation and rights violations. Ultimately, addressing modern slavery, like any other human rights abuses, is not just a single sector issue, nor is it a problem for only one part of the world to solve. It’s a collective challenge that requires coordinated leadership.