- Wetang’ula said the impact of modern slavery knows no bounds, transcends geographical borders and affects regions indiscriminately.
- The speaker cited Asia and the Pacific as heavily impacted regions, with the Arab States bearing the highest prevalence.
Image: HANDOUT
The National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has urged parliaments in Commonwealth nations to create laws that will curb gender-based violence and modern-day slavery.
Wetangula emphasised lawmakers bear a profound responsibility to lead in ending these scourges in member states.
“Violence against women and girls (VAWG) and modern slavery are not issues that respect geographical boundaries or political affiliations; they are universal challenges that demand our unwavering attention as parliamentarians,” he said.
Wetangula made the remarks on Saturday at Emara-Ole Sereni Hotel during a workshop on strengthening parliamentary action to address gender-based violence and modern slavery in supply chains.
The workshop was jointly organised by Commonwealth Parliamentary Association –UK and Parliament of Kenya.
The meeting, whose theme was 'Strengthening Parliamentary Action to Address Gender-Based Violence and Modern Slavery in Supply Chains,' sought to advocate for rigorous oversight with the ultimate goal of reducing the two vices both domestically and internationally.
The Speaker highlighted how the goods and service consumed locally are often the products of complex supply chains spanning nations and continents.
He lamented that while these supply chains drive economies and promise prosperity, they've also become sources of exploitation and suffering, especially for women and girls.
“As parliamentarians, we must wholeheartedly commit ourselves to crafting legislation that not only holds the perpetrators of these horrifying acts accountable but also ensures that our businesses and industries operate under the highest standards of ethics, with unwavering respect for human rights,” the Speaker advised.
Modern slavery, as per international standards, comprises forced labour and forced marriage.
These refer to situations where individuals face exploitation, driven by threats, coercion, or abuse, leaving them helpless and unable to escape their dire circumstances.
Referring to the alarming Global Estimates of 2021, the Speaker regretted the haunting statistic: approximately are 50 million individuals trapped in modern slavery, with six individuals affected for every thousand people globally.
“Over 12 million of these victims are innocent children, while a staggering 54 per cent are women and girls,” he revealed,
He added that the impact of modern slavery knows no bounds, transcends geographical borders and affects regions indiscriminately.
The speaker cited Asia and the Pacific as heavily impacted regions, with the Arab States bearing the highest prevalence.