This project follows the work undertaken by the Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. On 27 September 2019, The Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking released its final report, Unlocking Potential: A Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking.
The Blueprint provides a collective-action framework for different financial sector actors to take action to end modern slavery and human trafficking. It sets five Goals, which are accompanied by 30 Actions:
- Compliance with laws against modern slavery and human trafficking
- Knowing and showing modern slavery and human trafficking risks
- Using leverage creatively to mitigate and address modern slavery and human trafficking risks
- Providing and enabling effective remedy for modern slavery and human trafficking harms
- Investment in innovation for prevention.
The FAST initiative is designed to promote awareness and drive implementation of the Blueprint and its Goals and Actions. FAST is a project of the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, with the support of numerous project partners, including the Office for Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and private sector and charitable donors.
See the FAST website for further details, including news, upcoming events and the monthly FAST newsletter.
Recent Publications
Brief
Lessons from the Survivor Inclusion Initiative
Providing financial access for survivors and other communities vulnerable to modern slavery
Brief
Developing a Public Private Partnership Approach to Increase Financial Inclusion for Modern Slavery Survivors in Mexico
An overview of a pilot intervention in Mexico to widen access to basic banking services for modern slavery survivors.
Brief
Exploring Migrant Survivors' Remittance Needs in the United States
Presenting the findings of a FAST survivor inclusion pilot programme.
Brief
Tackling Illicit Financial Flows at Source: Adopting a ‘Location-Centred Approach’ to Address Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Advanced monitoring of suspicious transactions to enhance the targeting of exploitative crimes.
Report
Modern Slavery and Financial Exclusion: Exploring Crisis-Related Risks for Men
Enhancing efforts to combat modern slavery and promote financial inclusion, inclusive of diverse men, during times of crisis.
Report
Asset Recovery and Restitution
Leveraging Inter-agency and Multi-stakeholder Cooperation to Facilitate Compensation for Victims and Survivors of Forced Labour and Human Trafficking.
Brief
Artificial Intelligence: Addressing or Distorting the Modern Slavery Challenge?
Leveraging AI's potential and mitigating its risks in efforts to address modern slavery.
Brief
How Financial Intelligence Units Can Support the More Effective Implementation of Sanctions Regimes
Leveraging the expertise, experience, and networks of FIUs in the fight against modern slavery.
Brief
Lessons from Canada's Approach to Extending Financial Access to Survivors of Modern Slavery
Taking Canada’s financial access for survivors approach to the next level.
Brief
Accelerating Change: The Potential of Capital Market Actors in Addressing Modern Slavery
Insights, best practice examples, case studies, and recommendations to empower Capital Market Actors.
Brief
Preventing and Reducing Modern Slavery Risks for Diverse men in Conflict and Crisis Through Increased Financial Inclusion
Protecting diverse men from the risk of modern slavery during conflicts and crises.
Report
Financial Needs and Vulnerability to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in Haiti
Ethically integrating local financial solutions into broader efforts to prevent exploitation in Haiti.
Brief
Strengthening Financial Inclusion to Protect Against Modern Slavery: Applying Lessons to Bank Forcibly Displaced Persons/Refugees
Practical insights from the financial sector in addressing the financial inclusion needs of persons forcibly displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.
Brief
Establishing an Agile Response Process to Crisis and Conflict-related Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Risks
Risk identification and mitigation measures for financial institutions to address modern slavery.
Report
Detecting Financial Flows of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery: A Guide to Automated Transaction Monitoring
Mobilizing the financial sector to enhance detection of modern slavery.
Report
Including Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessments
Enhancing money laundering and terrorist financing inclusion in National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessments (NRAs).
Research Highlights
Resources
Toolkit
Fighting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Part 1
Helping financial organizations to identify, mitigate and prevent modern slavery risks and exploitative practices.
Toolkit
Survivor Inclusion Initiative
The Survivor Inclusion Initiative works with financial institutions and survivor support organizations to promote financial inclusion.
Toolkit
Connection & Risk Tool
Learn about your organization’s possible connections to modern slavery and human trafficking.
Toolkit
Financial Investigations Tool
Informing financial investigations into modern slavery and human trafficking.
Toolkit
FAST: The Podcast
Exploring the connections between global finance and modern slavery and human trafficking.
Toolkit
The Anti-Modern Slavery Self-Assessment Tool for Financial Institutions
Helping financial sector professionals better assess whether and how their financial institutions address modern slavery and human trafficking.
Accelerating Change: The Potential of Capital Market Actors in Addressing Modern Slavery
Announcements
News
FAST and ACAMS Unveil Spanish Translation of Vital Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Certificate
Training certificate for anti-financial crime professionals in the public and private sectors now available in Spanish.
News
Combating Modern Slavery Through ESG in the Financial Sector
Aligning environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in financial sector actions to end modern slavery.
News
Stock Exchange Guidance on Modern Slavery Growing, But More Needed
Although more stock exchanges reference modern slavery in their ESG disclosure guidance, variation in terms of coverage and details remains.
Event
FAST Annual Stakeholder Convening 2023
Sharing knowledge and practices to help eradicate modern slavery.
News
Targeting the International Anti-Money Laundering Regime to Address Human Trafficking and Forced Labour
Changing the anti-money laundering regime would bring important shifts in the global economy, resulting in less exploitation and fewer labour abuses.
Media Coverage
Could COP28 Help Protect Africans From Growing Modern Slavery?
An opportunity to initiate conversations about environmental and social risks in financial sector investments.
News
New Research Empowers Capital Market Actors to Address Modern Slavery
Providing a practical roadmap to better identify, prevent, mitigate, and remediate modern slavery.
News
UNU-CPR Recommendations Unanimously Adopted by African Financial Authorities
Move promises to strengthen continent’s fight against modern slavery and human trafficking.
News
Strengthening Global Responses to Forced Labour and Sex Trafficking
An updated training certificate for anti-financial crime professionals is strengthening the global response to modern slavery and human trafficking.
News
New Policy Brief Helps Financial Sector Address Crisis-Driven Modern Slavery Risks
Identifying the steps financial institutions can take to prepare for and address risks associated with crises and displacements.
