The Global Response to Modern Slavery and Global Health

Human trafficking and modern slavery is a central concern in International Relations. There is a full body of international treaties to address this issue and wide consensus among states and increasingly, companies, that ending modern slavery is a high moral obligation. Yet, there are more people living in slavery than ever before. Modern slavery is framed in policy and literature from various perspectives, including human rights, criminal justice, and public health. Given the global and human rights nature of modern slavery, this chapter describes modern slavery as a global health issue that should place people with lived experience as its core, and merits the stronger international coordination, governance and resources that key global health issues attract.