Finance against slavery
and trafficking

Mobilizing the financial sector against modern slavery and human trafficking.

Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) is a multi-stakeholder initiative based at United Nations University Centre for Policy Research that works to mobilize the financial sector against modern slavery and human trafficking.

There are an estimated 40 million people in conditions of modern slavery globally. Despite a blanket ban on such practices, modern slavery remains a big business, generating an estimated USD 150 billion in illicit funds each year. Financial institutions may be connected to modern slavery and human trafficking through their own operations, or through their business relationships. Because the financial sector is so intertwined with the rest of the economy, financial sector action can help change the way the whole global economy works. The financial sector has a unique opportunity, at this critical juncture, to lead the transformation of our global economy to address modern slavery and human trafficking.

Our Work

FAST pursues an innovative, ambitious strategy to accelerate action to address modern slavery and human trafficking. Grounding its work in evidence-based approaches and rigorous analysis, it provides tools and training to financial sector stakeholders to take meaningful, sustained action against modern slavery and human trafficking. FAST runs global initiatives and campaigns to raise awareness and build momentum on these issues while incubating projects, strategies and coalitions for long-term impact. Through its alliance-building approach, FAST works in partnership with entities around the world, including international banks and regional banking associations, investor groups and stock exchanges, professional associations, survivor support organizations, regulators and policymakers to address modern slavery and human trafficking. 

At the heart of this work is FAST’s signature report, the Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking. The Blueprint, the culmination of a year-long global consultation by an expert Commission (the Liechtenstein Initiative for a Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking), provides a shared collective-action framework that different financial sector actors can implement in their own ways and at their own speeds. It includes 5 Goals and 30 Actions that together provide a roadmap for the whole financial sector and its stakeholders, including governments, regulators and the multilateral system, to demonstrate their commitment to accelerating action to end modern slavery and human trafficking.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FAST BLUEPRINT

The FAST Blueprint sets out five Goals towards which financial sector actors can work through individual and collective action.

FAST BLUEPRINT GOALS

1

Compliance
with laws

2

Knowing & Showing
Risks

3

Using
leverage creatively

4

Effective
remedy

5

Innovation for Prevention

1

Compliance with laws
against modern slavery and human trafficking.

ACT NOW

Strengthen financial investigations

Involve and learn from survivors

Strengthen use of the AML/CFT
and sanctions regimes

INITIATE

Strengthen financial investigations

Mobilize the insurance sector

Use public financial regulatory levers –
procurement, investment + lending, fiscal
policy and competition law

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOAL 1
2

Knowing and showing
modern slavery and human trafficking risks.

ACT NOW

Collaborative learning on due diligence

Foster digital and data innovation

Public, intergovernmental reporting and exclusions database
(mutual debarment model)

INITIATE

Taxonomy and harmonized disclosure regimes

Corporate ESG ratings

Collaborative value-chain mapping and
shadow pricing modelling

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOAL 2
3

Using leverage creatively to mitigate & address
modern slavery and human trafficking.

ACT NOW

Differentiated leverage guidance

Collaborative leverage in high-risk sectors such as construction

Promote leverage reporting and transparency

INITIATE

Explore platform leverage

Develop benchmarks and ratings on leverage

Embed leverage in enterprise tech

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOAL 3
4

Providing and enabling effective remedy for
modern slavery and human trafficking harms.

ACT NOW

Participate in the FAST Survivor Inclusion Initiative

Provide and contribute to effective remedy

Cooperate with financial investigations and judicial processes

INITIATE

Use leverage to enable effective remedy ecosystems

Develop new insurance lines

Investigate other novel modalities for capital-raising

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOAL 4
5

Investment in innovation
for prevention.

ACT NOW

Invest in digital finance to serve vulnerable populations,
such as through the FAST Vulnerable Populations Initiative

Size investment needs

Promote social finance, such as microfinance

INITIATE

Strengthen return on investment (ROI) knowledge

Develop anti-slavery bonds and performance loans

E-finance regulatory harmonization

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOAL 5