April 12, 2018

London 

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Kailash Satyarthi and UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery will be top draws tomorrow at the launch of a report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) to Commonwealth heads of governments on SDG 8.7 aimed at eliminating forced labour, human trafficking, modern slavery and child labour.

“This is one of a series of five public events relating to key themes of human rights and good governance that CHRI is running on the sidelines of the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here,” said Sanjoy Hazarika, CHRI’s International Director. “Our events highlight the need to not just challenge stakeholders to uphold the law but the need for civil society groups to develop strong partnerships with media, academia and other groups and engage with governments to ensure that the changes sought are sustainable and aren’t pushed under the carpet.”

The SDG 8.7 Report ‘Creating an Effective Coalition to Achieve SDG 8.7’ makes specific recommendations to heads of governments will be launched on 13^th April, Friday at 5:30 pm at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place.

CHRI will convene a panel discussion after the release with Mr. Satyarthi, Urmila Bhoola, UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Slavery; and Sanjoy Hazarika, International Director, CHRI.

SDG 8.7 commits Commonwealth members to: [t]ake immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.’

Earlier in the day, civil society organisations and academicians from the field of criminal justice and human rights will hold a panel on ‘Reducing the Use of Pre-Trial Detention in the Commonwealth’. CHRI is partnering Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), Fair Trials, Penal Reform International, Institute of Criminal Policy Research and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Experts the panel include Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC, Roy Walmsley from World Prison Brief, Jago Russell from Fair Trials, Martin Schönteich from OSJI and Catherine Heard from the Institute of Criminal Policy Research. Alison Hannah from Penal Reform International, Anika Holterhof from UNODC, Sanjoy Hazarika, International Director of CHRI and Madhurima Dhanuka, Programme Coordinator, Prison Reforms, CHRI will also participate.

The events include the first ever festival of Commonwealth films with a focus on human rights which will be showcasing films from all geographies of the Commonwealth. The VR 10 minute documentary 180 on an Indian woman prison whose son, born in jail, fought for her freedom is having its UK premiere on Saturday at the British Museum.  It has been co-produced by CHRI.

Press: Newindianexpress.com