9.1.20
What Happens Next?
Swipe Right for Slavery – What Does Modern Slavery Look Like? | 4
There are more slaves today than ever before in human history.

The figures are staggering – an estimated 40.3 million people are trapped in some form of modern slavery globally, a number that’s challenging to accurately quantify.

“What Happens Next?” kicks off a three-part series on the often-overlooked realities of modern slavery. Host Dr Susan Carland is joined by criminologist Dr Bodean Hedwards for a thought-provoking conversation that dissects the complexities of this harrowing truth.

Modern slavery is a multifaceted term that encompasses a range of exploitative practices, from human trafficking to forced labour, to bonded labour and debt bondage, to forced marriage.

The conversation peels back layers, revealing uncomfortable truths about consumer complicity. From clothing to technology, modern slavery lurks within supply chains, often hidden from consumers’ eyes.

Although Bo says that we’re already living in a dystopian world in which technologies are being perverted to support this inhumane practice, the good news is that there’s a ray of hope. Consumers and anti-slavery advocates are behind a growing movement demanding ethical practices, prompting businesses to reconsider their supply chains.

A full transcript of this episode is available on Monash Lens.

In this series:

• Part 1: Swipe Right for Slavery
• Part 2: When Slavery’s Not a Crime
• Part 3: How Many Slaves Work for You?

Learn more about modern slavery:

• Ending modern slavery - Monash Global Impact 
• A Different Lens: exposing modern slavery 
• “What Happens Next?”: Is It Time to Rethink Our Wardrobes?
• More needs to be done regarding forced marriage as family violence

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Subscribe to Monash’s YouTube channel to watch the video version of each full episode.