Penny Mordaunt vows to 'stamp out' modern slavery as new global projects unveiled
2 min read
Penny Mordaunt has vowed to “stamp out” the scourge of modern slavery abroad as she unveiled a multimillion pound package to help half a million survivors or people at risk.
The International Development Secretary said some £40m would go towards projects in areas where slavery and human trafficking are commonplace - such as South Asia and Nigeria.
It is her first big policy announcement since she took over from Priti Patel earlier this month. Her predecessor was forced to resign over a secret meetings scandal.
Ms Mordaunt said: “The continued trade in human beings is a global disgrace - and simply not enough is being done to tackle it.
“It is time to eradicate this shameful practice. Slavery, anywhere, must not be tolerated in the 21st century, and our work to stamp out this practice abroad will support our effort to end slavery in the UK.”
She added: “This is a long term challenge and others must follow our lead.
Theresa May pledged at the United Nations General Assembly to double the UK’s aid commitment to tackling modern slavery, which is thought to have some 40 million victims.
As she took over the job two weeks ago, Ms Mordaunt suggested her department should compete for money in the same way charities have to.
She said officials needed to look at “whether people would choose to donate to Dfid” if they were given a choice.
Ms Mordaunt wrote in the Daily Telegraph: “People want to know: what are you going to do with my money? How do I know you’ll spend it well? How will this improve the things that matter?
“This is the level of clarity and transparency we must achieve. That is not always easy: not least because of the complexity of funding relationships and the long-term nature of what we do.”
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