Using this Toolbox

This toolbox is designed to help you explore and take action on Modern slavery in a financial context. There are two main ways you can use this toolbox:

Start with common goals and questions for a guided entry point designed to support members and users who are still clarifying their objectives or are newer to the topic. This section links common goals and questions to suitable themes.
Go to any of the 4 themes (Strategy, Governance, Frameworks and metrics, System change) to find categories and resources that align with your specific role, focus area, or implementation needs. This path is best for users who already have a clear idea of what they’re looking for.

The 4 themes:

A. Strategy: Approaches and methodologies for understanding the issue and embedding it into financial decision-making. This includes investment analysis, risk integration, product development, and client advisory practices.

B. Governance: Internal systems, responsibilities, and legal obligations that ensure the issue is addressed through oversight, compliance, policy, and organisational change. This includes the role of directors, regulatory frameworks, and internal governance processes.

C. Frameworks and metrics: Voluntary standards, guidance, and measurement tools that support implementation and accountability. This includes KPIs, verification approaches, and frameworks used to assess and report on action to address the issue.

D. System change: Collective efforts and structural reforms that tackle the root causes of the issue. This includes systems thinking, advocacy, policy transformation, and economic models that promote long-term, systemic solutions.

Note: Some categories in this toolbox appear under more than one theme. This reflects the fact that certain topics — such as laws and regulations, stakeholder engagement, and active ownership — are relevant in different contexts depending on how they are used.

Laws and Regulations appears in:
- Governance – when focused on compliance, reporting obligations, or internal legal responsibilities
- System Change – when focused on policy reform, legislative development, or international regulatory coordination
Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy appears in:
- Frameworks & Metrics – when tied to stewardship strategies, engagement tools, or ESG integration
- System Change – when focused on collective advocacy, structural reform, or movement-building
Active Ownership appears in:
- Frameworks & Metrics – when focused on proxy voting, engagement tracking, or investor guidance
- System Change – when framed around long-term stewardship to address root causes like exploitation or systemic inequality

Similarly, resources appear under more than one theme, as they support multiple areas of practice. We’ve intentionally included them where relevant, but highlighted their distinct use in each section.

This dual placement ensures that members can find relevant tools and resources based on how they are approaching the issue — whether through operational implementation or broader system-level action.

Topic overview: Modern Slavery

Modern slavery is a hidden crime that encompasses a range of exploitative practices including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking (Parliament of Australia, Walk Free, International Labour Organization). Essentially it refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power – Walk Free.

There are 50 million people worldwide in modern slavery (2021 statistic from the Global Slavery Index, Walk Free).

Source: Video from International Labour Organization September, 2022

Modern slavery affects individuals across the globe, cutting across various demographic and socio-economic groups. The prevalence of modern slavery is particularly high in regions experiencing conflict, weak governance, and significant migration flows. For instance, countries like India, China, and North Korea have some of the highest numbers of people in modern slavery (Walk Free).

Efforts to combat modern slavery require action from governments, international organisations, businesses, and civil society. We need to collectively advocate for, and enforce, stronger labour laws, social protection and ethical recruitment practices.

“We can do more than cry for the millions of oppressed modern slaves around the world. As free people, it is our duty to use our voices to speak for the voiceless.” – Yeonmi Park

Common goals and questions

Find a goal or question that fits your need. We’ll direct you to the most relevant theme in this toolbox.

I want to: Embed this issue into our investment or lending strategies by identifying the risks and opportunities it presents across asset classes.
How can we align financial decisions with this issue?

Best theme: Strategy
I want to: Understand where and how this issue shows up in key industries, sectors, or geographies to inform our analysis and engagement priorities.
What industries or regions are most exposed?

Best theme: Strategy
I want to: Clarify board or management duties on this issue, particularly as they relate to risk oversight, accountability, and disclosures.
What responsibilities do directors and executives hold?

Best theme: Governance
I want to: Ensure we meet legal obligations, including national and international disclosure requirements, and align with evolving regulations on this issue.
What do we need to disclose and how?

Best themes: Governance, System Change
I want to: Communicate our efforts transparently and responsibly, and avoid making claims that could be considered misleading or superficial.
How can we avoid greenwashing on this issue?

Best theme: Governance
I want to: Benchmark our approach against leading standards and use external guidance to identify areas for improvement.
What standards or frameworks can help us assess and strengthen our approach?

Best theme: Frameworks & Metrics
I want to: Track progress and impact over time using meaningful, decision-useful metrics that reflect our commitments.
What indicators can we use to measure outcomes?

Best theme: Frameworks & Metrics
I want to: Influence companies and other stakeholders to take this issue seriously through our role as an investor, bank, or insurer.
How can we drive change using our voice or capital?

Best theme: System Change
I want to: Contribute to systemic solutions that address the root causes of this issue, beyond short-term fixes or policy compliance.
What structural shifts are needed to eliminate this issue long-term?

Best theme: System Change
I want to: Understand where to begin and what steps are most important if I’m just getting started with this issue.
What’s the best starting point for tackling this issue?

Best themes: Strategy, Governance

Strategy

A. Strategy: Approaches and methodologies for understanding the issue and embedding it into financial decision-making. This includes investment analysis, risk integration, product development, and client advisory practices.

Resources in this theme relate to the following categories:

ESG Strategy, Analysis and Integration
Issue/Sector Focused Research
Product Development and Trends
Sustainable Financial Advice and Consulting

Library resources

Good practice toolkit: Strengthening modern slavery responses

Australian Human Rights Institute

This toolkit provides guidance on improving business practices under Australia's Modern Slavery Act. It emphasises effective stakeholder and supplier engagement, human rights due diligence, and the use of digital technologies. The toolkit includes practical examples and recommendations for businesses, governments, and civil society to better combat modern slavery.

Modern Slavery Toolbox

AUTHORS

Using this Toolbox

The 4 themes:

Topic overview: Modern Slavery

Common goals and questions

Strategy

Resources in this theme relate to the following categories:

Library resources

Preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in the financial sector

Webinar

Modern slavery – A gendered issue

Webinar

IASC and The Investor Forum event: The role of investors in eradicating modern slavery

Webinar

What I’ve learned from the research on framing modern slavery

Article

Governance

Resources in this theme relate to the following categories:

Library resources

Modern slavery – A gendered issue

Webinar

IASC and The Investor Forum event: The role of investors in eradicating modern slavery

Webinar

What I’ve learned from the research on framing modern slavery

Article

Frameworks and metrics

Resources in this theme relate to the following categories:

Library resources

Preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in the financial sector

Webinar

Modern slavery – A gendered issue

Webinar

The expectation of continuous improvement in combating modern slavery

Article

What I’ve learned from the research on framing modern slavery

Article

Fighting modern slavery and human trafficking part 2: US sex and exploitation cases

Course

System change

Resources in this theme relate to the following categories:

Library resources

Preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in the financial sector

Webinar

Fighting modern slavery and human trafficking part 2: US sex and exploitation cases

Course

IASC and The Investor Forum event: The role of investors in eradicating modern slavery

Webinar

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