Democracy Funding

I have been working in the field of international development, human rights and counter slavery for three quarters of a decade, and at last year's Obama Foundation Democracy Forum a new insight emerged for me.

That InSight was the otherwise unexplored intersection between democratisation (including its retreat) and the booming trade of human trafficking for the purpose of forced labour and child labour in the world. 10 years ago it was estimated at an annual profit of USD$150B.

Most current indexes and measurements (completed by ILO, IOM, WalkFree, US Dep of Labour, US State Department) examine how individual countries are implementing laws or enforcing laws related to human trafficking, forced labour and child labour. These have most seen moderate to minimal improvements in actual outcomes for the now estimated 28m people in forced labour today around the world. What is never examined is the intersection between key indicators for democratisation and its relationship with reducing the prevalence of modern forms of slavery.

It follows that all instruments of States are ultimately accountable to the electorate or constituency. And if it is the case that democratic values and indicators are retreating, then so does accountabilities for how the instruments of the state are being utilised for some of the most unseen, unheard and underepresented people in many countries around the world - those people held against their will as victims.of human trafficking, forced labour and the worst forms of child labour.

It was said by Freedom House President Mark P. Lagon, who testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations in 2016.

'While democracy does not guarantee the absence of slavery, and some struggling democracies and even autocratic regimes have effectively fought trafficking, autocracy and weak or ‘emerging’ democracies are less equipped to tackle this horrific human rights challenge...Slavery is a special abomination, but it is inextricably part of the larger global scope of meaningful democracy in which all human beings resident in a country get justice in practice, or don’t.'

Since covid 19, we have seen an additional 10m people enslaved, including almost 3m more people in some form of forced labour around the world. Correspondingly, state responses according to the UNODC 2023 report are getting poorer, and the number of convictions against traffickers is decreasing compared to the number of victims identified (as a proportion).

And yet, there is rarely a link or research to demonstratively prove the intersection between retreating democratisation and democratic values enjoyed by all people, and increases in the prevalence of and impunity for human trafficking, forced labour and child labour.

My project proposes to initially unearth what peer reviewed research there is globally on democratisation and human trafficking, forced labour and child labour. There needs to be a literature review and metal analysis on all studies conducted to date, particularly to identify if there are any specific indicators that identify a relationship between democratisation and reductions/increases in modern forms of slavery.

It is estimated that this research may take up to a month part time and involve engaging a qualified consultant to undertake the resesrch.

With this research basis, it will allow for a future project to establish an index or measures and indicators on democratisation as a potential key endeavour for addressing the systematic problem of human trafficking, forced labour and child labour in many countries. With a new set of indicators, states, civil society and the private sector can turn attention to efforts that strengthen the democratic values that should be enjoyed by all, including those most at risk of exploitation through trafficking in persons for forced labour and child labour.

Budget:

• The total budget for this project ($USD 3333) is approximately AUD$5000.
• The entirety of the budget will be allocated towards a Research Assistant (with a non PhD qualification) at above the award wage hourly rate of $55 per hour.
• This is above the equivalent of a casual academic research assistant at an Australian University.
• The person will be required to hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and will invoice for the total scope of work.
• The total allocated hours for the research will be approximately 90 hours.
• Proposal is for this project to be completed on a part time basis of 22.5 hours per week for four weeks.
• The total budgeted time will include all aspects of the research, including any literature review and research report or findings.