Child labour in supply chains is often hidden in plain sight.
Understanding what it looks like, where it occurs, and how companies should respond is essential to preventing harm.
Clear expectations and strong due diligence help identify risks early and protect children from exploitation.
Ahead of @women_deliver 2026, we’re spotlighting the partners driving real progress for gender equality in Australia.
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For the first time in the Oceanic Pacific region, Australia will host Women Deliver, a global convening held every three years to champion and advance gender equality.
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These are just some of the 55+ partners who will be in the room, working to accelerate progress at a time when momentum is slowing in many parts of the world.
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The convening will bring together global leaders and decision-makers, while showcasing Australia’s strong gender equality sector on a global stage, a sector that has consistently driven progress, can serve as a model for others, and continues to push policy conversations further.
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Comment MORE to learn about Women Deliver and how Australia is helping shape what comes next.
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And keep an eye out for our partner events taking place next week. #WD2026
Migrant workers in Gulf states have been killed while doing their jobs on the streets, at work sites, and in shared accommodation.
Even as fighting pauses, many remain exposed. Some were killed by falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones.
Families say it is no longer safe. But for many workers, leaving is not an option.
Conflict increases the risk of modern slavery. Migrant workers must be included in emergency responses and protected.
Governments have the power to make companies take real action against modern slavery, but not all laws are created equal.
The latest Walk Free and @wikirate analysis reveals 5 key lessons from countries getting it right on forced labour and what needs to change.
Company directors and CEOs should be held accountable for exploitation in their supply chains.
My recent interview with Forbes Australia exposes how Australia’s Modern Slavery Act is failing to protect people. By requiring companies to report on risks in their supply chains, but not to act on them.
Without consequences, reporting does not change behaviour. It creates more disclosure, but not enough accountability.
Nearly $100 billion of goods imported into Australia in a single year carried a high risk of forced labour. Globally, 50 million people are living in modern slavery, including more than 40,000 in Australia.
With the Act under review, we must push to strengthen it, introduce mandatory human rights due diligence, and impose real penalties for companies and leaders who fail to act. As well as protection and remediation for people at every level of the supply chain.
There are more wars today than at any time since WWII.
Alongside the immediate and catastrophic humanitarian impact are increased risks of modern slavery.
Violence, displacement, and instability create conditions where traffickers and armed groups can exploit people fleeing danger.
Find out how conflict increases the risk of modern slavery and what needs to change to prevent exploitation in crisis settings.
Tonga has raised the legal age of marriage to 18.
This removes exceptions that previously allowed children aged 15 to 17 to marry with parental consent.
It’s a strong step toward preventing child marriage and modern slavery.
But laws alone aren’t enough. Enforcement and community support are key to making change real.
This Easter is a chance to think about where your chocolate comes from.
Behind the treats, many cocoa farmers are still earning far below a living income despite huge industry profits.
Choosing chocolate with certifications like Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance is one way to support more ethical supply chains and push for better standards.
Australia is at a turning point on modern slavery, and reporting alone is no longer enough.
Mandatory due diligence would drive real action, protect people from forced labour, and strengthen supply chains.
What does the US investigation into forced labour across 60 economies really mean for global trade? 🌏
There is an opportunity for real impact if worker protections are prioritised and it is backed up with genuine accountability.
But against a backdrop of an unpopular war, the Epstein files, domestic human rights concerns, and pushback on the administration's tariff powers, the timing invites cynicism.
With limits placed on tariff powers, enforcement is shifting toward trade measures, raising questions about whether worker protection is being prioritised.
The move comes amid scrutiny over global conflicts and the handling of the Epstein files, with its timing inviting cynicism.
Real change means accountability, enforcement, and prioritising workers.
Behind Walk Free are women who grew up believing the world could be fairer. 🌏🕊️
Today, we use our skills, voices, and determination to help drive action against modern slavery.
