HRC 51 - EU Intervention: Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery

Mr. President,

The EU thanks the Special Rapporteur and we reiterate our strong support for his mandate.

Slavery is not only an odious memory from the past but regrettably also a contemporary reality in many parts of the world.

The report before us is important and well documented. We encourage all Delegations to engage in good faith with the information it contains and to carefully study its recommendations. Let’s never forget that enslavement, when widespread and systematic, can amount to a crime against humanity.

Combatting forced labour, in Europe and worldwide, is for us a key priority. Last year, the EU published a guidance on due diligence for European businesses to address the risk of forced labour in their operations and supply chains. Furthermore, just this week, the European Commission adopted an important legislative proposal to ban products made with forced labour from the European market, as a way to contribute to the fight against forced labour worldwide.  

Mister Special Rapporteur,

We would welcome your further recommendations on the role that business and trade policies can play in the fight to eradicate forced labour and all contemporary forms of slavery.

I thank you.