Gareth spoke today at a meeting of the APPG for ESG - the parliamentary group for responsible business practice - to discuss how the UK’s financial sector can fight the scourge of modern slavery.
The event was attended by Dame Sara Thornton, who co-ordinates efforts to eradicate modern slavery in her role as the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
This follows Gareth’s campaign over the last year to broaden Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act with a new requirement for firms to consider the exposure of their investment portfolios to modern slavery. As well as an international Taskforce to develop a framework for enhanced scrutiny.
With academics and campaign groups also present, there was productive discussion of the world-leading work the UK has already done to tackle this issue; the great potential of the UK’s financial sector as a trillion pound lever to counter modern slavery; and how to overcome the obstacles we still face.
Gareth looks forward to working together with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s office and Government colleagues in the future on this important issue.
