OHCHR calls for input on the use of technology in facilitating and preventing contemporary forms of slavery

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery has invited public input on an upcoming report which will focus on “the use of technology in facilitating and preventing contemporary forms of slavery” and which will be presented to the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.

The report seeks to assess the extent to which modern technologies are being used to facilitate or  prevent contemporary forms of slavery by analysing the experiences of survivors/victims who have been recruited and exploited with the use of modern technology as well as by understanding positive measures taken by governments and technology companies to prevent their technologies and platforms being used in such ways. The report will focus primarily on areas within the Special Rapporteur’s mandate, particularly forced labour and forced and early marriage.

Key types of input sought include:

• Evidence of specific technologies being used to recruit and subject people to contemporary forms of slavery and the manifestations of such exploitation, such as forced labour, domestic servitude, and commercial sexual exploitation;
• Examples of positive measures taken by technology companies to promote access to protection, justice and remedies for victims, including through cooperation with other relevant stakeholders;
• Positive measures taken by civil society organisations and other non-governmental stakeholders to prevent modern technology from being used to facilitate contemporary forms of slavery;
• Challenges in preventing modern technology from being used to facilitate contemporary forms of slavery and practical recommendations for governments and technology companies to overcome them;
• Evidence of the use of modern technology, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, to prevent contemporary forms of slavery, and the limitations and challenges in using such technologies.

Inputs should be submitted by email to [email protected] with the subject line “Input for report of the SR on slavery to the 78th session of the GA” in either Word or PDF format, and should be less than 2000 words and in either English, French or Spanish. The deadline for submissions is Friday 14 April 2023.

• The call for inputs is available here.

Please note: The information contained in this note is for general guidance on matters of interest and does not constitute legal advice. For any enquiries, please contact us at [email protected].