Media Release: Australia urged to act on slave compounds as exploitation and scam risks surge across Asia-Pacific
A coalition of Australia’s leading anti-slavery agencies is urging political leaders to back bold and urgent action against modern slavery and forced labour in the Asia-Pacific, warning Australia is falling behind at a critical time.
The group wants the federal government to double its investment in frontline efforts to combat modern slavery, and calls for major parties to commit to stepping up support in the leadup to the Federal election.
“Right now, people are being trafficked, exploited, and enslaved across our region — Australians are connected to it through the goods we buy, the scams we fall for and the child sexual exploitations we enable online,” spokesperson for the Australian International Counter Slavery Alliance (AICSA) Jacob Sarkodee said.
AICSA is a newly-formed coalition of eight agencies operating across the Pacific and Asia. Its members say USAID’s elimination and cuts to global anti-trafficking programs have created a dangerous vacuum, and that Australia is uniquely positioned to lead, but isn’t doing enough.
“Australia has the reach, the resources and the responsibility to act but we’re watching from the sidelines,” Mr Sarkodee said. “Our region is seeing an escalation in trafficking and exploitation and without intervention, we’ll see deeper harm to communities already under pressure,” he said.
The call follows a recent expert roundtable, where frontline organisations, survivor leaders and civil society experts warned weakened regional support was already undermining enforcement and leaving trafficked people without vital services.
Key concerns:
● International aid for anti-slavery programs in South-East Asia has collapsed. The US has withdrawn more than $500 million from 70 anti-trafficking and child labour programs, leaving communities exposed.
● Australians are being scammed by criminal syndicates that enslave hundreds of thousands in compounds across Southeast Asia.
● Australia remains a top offender in the global online exploitation of children, many trafficked from our Pacific neighbours.
● Only 50 cents of every $100 in Australian aid goes toward anti-slavery efforts.
The Alliance wants the next Australian Government to:
1. Double investment in anti-slavery programs in the Asia-Pacific, with a focus on local leadership.
2. Establish an advisory mechanism with survivor leaders from the region to shape more effective responses.
3. Prioritise regional partnerships and diplomacy to tackle the root causes of forced labour and trafficking — beyond corporate supply chain reporting.
“We need to support governments, civil society, and survivor leaders in our neighbourhood to protect vulnerable people — not just write reports from Canberra.”
The call comes ahead of the Federal Election and follows Australia’s September 2024 pledge at the UN to intensify efforts to eradicate modern slavery.
Victim survivor/leader story (available for interview):
Ben Yeo, now based in Malaysia, was released from a scamming compound in Cambodia last October. He said, when he refused to engage in scamming, the syndicate isolated him and his wife. He was taken to a room, which was, in effect, a prison. “I couldn’t stand up because I was handcuffed to the floor. The guards gave me nothing to eat and drink. It was a nightmare - I also didn’t know what was going on for my wife - I was so worried for her.
Ben was made to feel like a criminal by the local police, saying that they had no interest in prosecuting the criminals who trafficked him. He is still fearful saying the criminals have substantial financial resources, so he is afraid they will track him down.
“For real change to happen, it’s vital that survivors are not only heard but are actively involved in shaping the solutions. Our experiences give us unique insights into what works and what doesn’t,’ Ben said.
“When we are empowered to lead, we move beyond being seen as victims-we become partners in building safer, more resilient communities."
For interviews with Jacob Sarkodee and/or survivor leader Ben Yeo, contact:
Ruth Lamperd on +61 417 765 947 or ruth@jerseyroad.agency
About AICSA The Australian International Counter Slavery Alliance is a newly-formed alliance of frontline Australian-based INGOs working in Asia and the Pacific, including A21 Australia, Bloom Asia, Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, Destiny Rescue Australia, Eden Australia, Global Counter-Trafficking Group, Hagar Australia, and International Justice Mission Australia.