UK anti–slavery drive ‘thwarted by failure to replace commissioner’
Former staffer says Britain's efforts to end slavery have been put on hold
London Britain’s efforts to be the global leader in fighting modern slavery have been thwarted by a failure to replace its anti–slavery chief who resigned seven months ago citing government interference, two sources told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Kevin Hyland was appointed as the inaugural independent commissioner in 2014 as part of Britain’s landmark Modern Slavery Act, but he resigned in May, saying he had been frustrated by government meddling. Hyland was widely hailed for helping to champion the world-first law and pushing the UN to adopt a target to end slavery by 2030 as part of the 17 global development goals adopted in 2015. But the delay in replacing him has prevented the commissioner’s seven-staff office from driving forward Britain’s strategy, holding the government to account, and cementing the nation’s status as a world leader, according to the two sources. “The office has been thwarted [by the delay] ... totally prevented from doing new work, taking the next step...
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