The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, is seeking information in preparation for his upcoming country visit to Canada, which will take place from 23 August to 6 September 2023.

The Special Rapporteur has been mandated through Human Rights Council 51/15 to, inter alia:

• Promote the effective application of relevant international norms and standards on slavery;
• Request, receive, and exchange information on contemporary forms of slavery from Government, treaty bodies, special procedures, specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and other relevant sources, including on slavery practices;
• Respond effectively to reliable information on alleged human rights violations with a view to protecting the human rights of victims of slavery and preventing violations;
• Recommend action and measures to eliminate slavery practices wherever they occur, including remedies that address the causes and consequences of contemporary forms of slavery, such as poverty, discrimination and conflict, and the existence of demand factors and relevant measures to strengthen international cooperation;
• Focus principally on aspects of contemporary forms of slavery that are not covered by existing mandates of the Human Rights Council, including but not limited to issues such as:
  1. Traditional slavery
  2. Debt bondage
  3. Serfdom
  4. Forced labour
  5. Children in slavery and slavery-like conditions
  6. Sexual slavery
  7. Forced and early marriage
  8. Servile forms of marriage

Types of input sought

In accordance with the established practice of mandate-holders, the Special Rapporteur welcomes all relevant submissions that any stakeholders may wish to transmit for his consideration in preparation of this visit, such as:

• Recent analytical reports or surveys relating to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur;
• Information on relevant policies, programmes and legal frameworks at national, provincial, and municipal levels, including draft legislation;
• Priority issues/concerns and situations that warrant the attention of the Special Rapporteur;
• Suggestions on issues to examine and related locations to visit, particularly outside of the capital;
• Contact information for organisations and civil society actors to meet in different locations with description of their relevance to the mandate