One of the things that makes understanding modern slavery confusing is that different definitions are used in Australia and overseas for these kinds of offences. Some are based on local legislation, others are based on international human rights definitions.
At Survivor Connections we use a universal, human rights-based definition of modern slavery as a guide:
Modern slavery is the use of force, deception, or coercion to exploit someone for personal or commercial profit.
It takes away a person’s freedom and agency, treating them as though they are owned.
The term ‘slavery’ carries a lot of shame and stigma, so it can be hard for people to process that they have had this kind of experience. Sometimes we know that our experiences have had a huge impact, but we don’t know what name to give them.
