Letter to the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
15 July 2024
PWDA sent a letter to the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery ahead of their visit to Australia. The Special Rapporteur is an independent human rights expert whose expertise is called upon by the United Nations to report on a specific theme, in this case contemporary slavery, including its causes and consequences.
PWDA is regularly involved in domestic, federal and international modern slavery (or contemporary slavery) law reform and policy processes. Our goal is to ensure that modern slavery prevention, detection and remedy measures are disability inclusive and uphold our rights set out in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Despite the global lack of research and data about the intersection between disability and modern slavery, there is evidence that people with disability experience modern slavery in Australia. We are particularly concerned about modern slavery risk in residential and employment settings
People with disability face a heightened risk of modern slavery in private and group home settings. Power imbalances between carers and people with disability, along with a lack of access to the community, contribute to the risk of modern slavery.
People with disability also face modern slavery risks in segregated employment. In Australia, people with disability can be employed in sheltered workshops, referred to as Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs), where they are often paid a subminimum wage. ADEs usually offer manual labour work, such as warehousing, ‘picking and packing’, cleaning and laundry services.
Given people with disability face a heightened risk of modern slavery, it is crucial that modern slavery services and supports are accessible. Unfortunately, people with disability face barriers accessing modern slavery crisis accommodation in Australia.
Summary of Recommendations
Recommendation 1 – Investigate the practice of trafficking between disability group homes further to determine whether it has ceased and examine the adequacy of the Government’s response to this issue.
Recommendation 2 – Consider including in your end of mission statement, express recognition of the specific modern slavery risks that people with disability face in residential settings, along with measures to reduce these risks.
Recommendation 3 – Consider including in your end of mission statement, an express recognition of the heightened modern slavery risk in segregated workplaces and a recommendation that segregated workplaces be phased out through an open employment pathway.
Recommendation 4 – Examine whether modern slavery crisis accommodation and other modern slavery services and supports are accessible for people with disability, including those with intersectional needs.