UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement on forms of slavery
UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences.
Thank you, Mr President,
We thank the Special Rapporteur for his thorough report on how incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people are affected by slavery, and for bringing this important issue to the Council’s attention.
We are deeply concerned by the scale of sexual exploitation and abuse faced by incarcerated people. Women, children and ethnic minorities are particularly at risk. We must end discriminatory laws and practices that enable a culture of impunity for such exploitation. Victims must have access to justice, and perpetrators must be held to account.
Individuals who have been incarcerated are often stigmatised afterwards. This increases their risk of becoming victims of modern slavery. We therefore welcome your recommendations on the importance of reintegration measures to enable access to education, decent work, adequate housing and financial inclusion.
In 2022, the UK changed legislation so that, for the first time some people with sentences of four years and over will no longer have to disclose their criminal record.
Special Rapporteur,
We would welcome your recommendations on what more can be done to strengthen reintegration measures for incarcerated people during and after their detention.
Thank you.