​UN Special Rapporteur on slavery warns COVID-19 could push millions into slavery

September 16, 2020.Tomoya Obokata, the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, warns that COVID-19 risks pushing millions of children, women and men into contemporary forms of slavery and other forms of exploitation unless governments act now to protect them, a UN human rights expert warned today. 

“There is an acute risk that the poorest will be pushed into bonded labour, forced labour or other contemporary forms of slavery for survival,” he said.

He particularly called for accountability for businesses that exploit vulnerable workers producing, processing and providing medicine, medical equipment or personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic.