About human trafficking and slavery
Human trafficking and slavery are serious crimes and a violation of human rights. This includes forced labour and forced marriage. We are committed to combatting these crimes and supporting those who have experienced trafficking and slavery.
Human trafficking and slavery are abhorrent crimes and affect people in most countries in the world. This can be if a country is the source of the trafficking, involved in transit or the destination point (or a combination of all 3).
The types of human trafficking and slavery experienced can vary from region to region. The most visible form of trafficking involves the sexual exploitation of women and children. However, around the world men, women, and children are trafficked for a wide range of purposes.
Humans may be trafficked for:
- sexual exploitation
- forced labour (in industries such as hospitality, construction, forestry, mining or agriculture)
- domestic labour
- sweatshop labour
- forced marriage
- illegal adoption
- street begging
- forced recruitment into militia or the armed forces
- the harvesting of body organs.
A comprehensive whole-of-government strategy to combat these crimes commenced in 2004.
Australia’s strategy is guided by the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020–25(Opens in a new tab/window) which was launched in 2020.
Since the strategy commenced, the Government has provided more than $150 million to support a range of domestic, regional, and international initiatives.
We support the strategy to combat modern slavery through our Support for Trafficked People Program.
There are guidelines for NGOs working with trafficked people(Opens in a new tab/window) to assist any organisations working in this area.
Resources
For more information about how Australia is combatting human trafficking and slavery, view the following resources.
- The MyAus App provides in-language information about family, domestic and sexual violence laws and services.
- National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020–25(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Guidelines for NGOs Working with trafficked people(Opens in a new tab/window)