Modern slavery, the announcement of the UN Fund: assigned 43 grants to assist over 13,000 survivors of slavery in 33 countries

ROME – More than 40 million people worldwide live in de facto slavery. The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Which Still Persist Around the World, was designed precisely to address this heinous issue that affects such a huge number of people, respect for their dignity and fundamental rights humans, gravely violated. By awarding grants to civil society organizations (NGOs), the Fund ensures that thousands of men, women and children subjected to slavery in every part of the planet today receive humanitarian, psychological, social, legal, medical, financial and other assistance. The United Nations Fund for Slavery has awarded 43 annual grants to assist more than 13,000 survivors of slavery in 33 countries around the world in the amount of US$961,000. This was possible thanks to the generous voluntary contributions of 11 Member States.

A direct impact in daily life. The United Nations Fund for Slavery is characterized by its victim-centred approach and its universality, its agility and ability to reach remote locations and empower grassroots initiatives. Its impact is felt on the ground, in the daily lives of victims and survivors on their journey to healing. As part of the UN anti-slavery framework, the Fund fills a niche of direct aid to victims and resilience building for survivors and civil society. Through strategic partnerships, the Fund complements and leverages the monitoring, reporting, advocacy and advisory role of other United Nations mechanisms combating contemporary forms of slavery.

How the Fund works. The Fund is managed by the United Nations Human Rights Office, with the advice of a Board of Trustees composed of five independent experts. Grants ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 are awarded annually on a competitive basis. A call for proposals is open every year from 15 January to 1 March. The Fund Secretariat evaluates applications, including through site visits, and reviews grant implementation through review of descriptive, financial and audit reports. The council meets once a year to determine priorities, review policies, and adopt grant recommendations.

Beneficiaries of the Fund. Since its establishment by the General Assembly in 1991 (resolution 46/122), the United Nations Fund for Slavery has awarded more than $8 million to more than 400 organizations in more than 100 countries, providing rehabilitation and assistance to thousands of people whose human rights have been severely violated as a result of contemporary forms of slavery, including:

– Children in armed conflict

– Debt bondage Forced and early marriage

– Forced labor Traditional slavery

– Trafficking in persons

– Sale of children

– Sale of wives

– Bondage and sexual slavery

– Widow’s inheritance

– Worst forms of child labour