Slavery

By the year 2025, modern slavery is still perpetrating more than 50 million people across the globe, a multifaceted societal and public health crisis, and a human right crisis. As legislative frameworks and advocacy efforts have achieved some progress in identifying and protecting victims, the more lasting effects particularly on the provision of public services […]

New Zealand’s struggle to pass modern slavery legislation in 2025 is drawing attention not just for its political friction but for its ethical consequences. With bipartisan support already evident, procedural stagnation has taken center stage. The prolonged delay is exposing supply chains, businesses, and vulnerable individuals to risks that could have long-term impacts on human […]

Brazil continues to be the world’s top coffee exporter, responsible for close to 40% of global production. Just in 2024, the nation raked in more than $12 billion from coffee exports. Behind the economic prowess, though, is a nagging and disturbing fact: instances of modern slavery continue to haunt the coffee industry, especially in areas […]

In August 2025, President Donald Trump intensified criticism of the Smithsonian Institution over its depiction of slavery in museum exhibits, accusing it of focusing too heavily on “how bad slavery was” and failing to present what he referred to as “the brighter side of America’s story.” Through a series of public remarks and official directives, […]

A controversial Confederate memorial at Arlington National Cemetery was re-erected in the United States at the center of a new national outcry over memory and representation of the past. Critics claim that the monument, which was first carved by Moses Ezekiel in 1914, features imagery that glorifies the Confederacy in a way that is pro-slavery […]

The new guidance issued by the United Kingdom in March 2025 on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA) is a clear indication of a paradigm change in the intensity of the expectations applied to businesses to combat modern slavery in their own business activity and supply chain. Although compliance is still an obligatory requirement, the […]

The Confederate Memorial at the Arlington National Cemetery, which was created in 1914 by Moses Jacob Ezekiel, a former Confederate soldier, has remained one of the most controversial icons over the course of more than one century. The monument, which was financed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, served as a tangible representation of […]

John Salley, a four-time NBA champion, reignited an enduring debate over player autonomy in 2025 with his provocative description of himself as the “only free slave in the NBA” upon his move to the Chicago Bulls decades ago. His reference, rooted in self-determination and the rare ability to buy out his contract, still resonates amid […]

In 2025, modern slavery has come to be viewed not only as a moral concern but also as a critical financial risk entrenched within global investment portfolios. Asset manager IFM Investors has pointed out that slavery practices often signal governance failure—capable of triggering legal liabilities, disrupting supply chains, and causing reputational damage. Now that over […]

The system of identifying and assisting the victims of modern slavery in the UK has been linked to the areas of immigration law resulting in several outcomes that tend to make the entire process of protecting vulnerable people more challenging instead of helpful. The main component of this process is the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) […]

The Royal Exchange, Manchester, which had once been described as the centrepiece of the British industrial abilities, has returned into the spotlight of the increasing criticism of the colonial history of the United Kingdom. A wave of recent academic research has revealed that the city’s commercial rise, particularly through the Royal Exchange, was deeply intertwined […]

In July 2025 the decades-old campaign of reparatory justice by Caribbean countries put the focus onto Europe when a large delegation initiated a new effort in Westminster at the same time as it opened one in Brussels. Their target: introducing the question of reparations over slavery and colonialism to the political agenda of former colonial […]

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is globally renowned for its glittering skylines, luxury tourism, and rapid economic growth. Yet, beneath this image lies a stark reality: the country’s prosperity is built on the labor of millions of migrant workers, most of whom are governed by the restrictive and controversial Kafala sponsorship system. With nearly 88% […]