Uganda MPs in UK for modern-day slavery and human trafficking seminar

A team from Uganda’s Parliament and other members from the Commonwealth states are in UK for a seminar on modern day slavery and human trafficking.
Led by Soroti Municipality MP Herbert Ariko, the team that include Maurice Kibalya, Agnes Kunihara and parliamentary officials John Miruni Tamale and Pius Biribonwoha will interface with some of the leading lawyers and practitioners working to bring an end to modern slavery-related crimes. In attendance will also be parliamentarians at the forefront of reviewing and amending legislation and raising awareness of these issues in their constituencies.

Organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK), the seminar will aim to devise means to end modern day slavery and human trafficking across the globe.
Mr Ariko, the sponsor of Uganda’s Private Member’s Bill on modern day slavery that was introduced to Parliament in January 2019 said this is a good chance for Uganda to learn and share its experiences with legislators from other commonwealth countries.

“We, the Ugandan delegation, are eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to share views, experiences and knowledge with other legislators and experts on the strategies to combat modern day slavery in all its forms and facets. The CPA UK Modern Slavery Project has helped mobilise, create awareness and support efforts to expose the vice of slavery in the Commonwealth. We are privileged and honoured to be a key partner in this effort,” he said.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Urmila Bhoola, said this is a unique opportunity to interface with the legislators and other interest groups to address the issue of modern day slavery.

“It is a unique opportunity to engage with parliamentarians, who are a key stakeholder in addressing modern slavery, about key legislative and policy strategies to combat the scourge that taints the global economy, destroys human dignity and violates human rights. I look forward to constructive discussions which will hopefully culminate in an action plan for Commonwealth nations to lead the way on this issue," she said.
The MPs from Uganda will also be joined by parliamentarians and officials from Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Malawi, Namibia, Kenya, Pakistan, Turks & Caicos Islands and the UK.

The Global Slavery Index estimates that there are around 40 million victims of modern day slavery, human trafficking and forced labour worldwide. In Uganda there are particularly challenges relating to forced labour in agriculture, services and industry as well as sex trafficking from neighbouring countries; with Sub-Sahara Africa recording the highest rate of child trafficking in the world.

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