ACTIVE CITZENSHIP
What is an active citizen?
Being an active citizen means participating in your community, society, and democracy to help bring about positive change. It is about going beyond individual concerns to contribute to the common good.
How can active citizens participate in antislavery activism?
Modern slavery is a violation of human rights. Being an active citizen involves standing up against injustices and advocating for policies that promote human rights and social equity.
Everyone has a platform, and no matter how big (or small) yours is, you can have an important impact. Our words and action are powerful tools and can be harnessed to support antislavery efforts.
What can I do?
Learning about why the exploitation of human beings is so prolific and root causes of modern slavery like poverty and racism is an essential first step. Then reflecting on your own values and sphere of influence can help you determine where best to put your energy. Communicating with businesses and policy makers to demand stronger protections for workers and others at risk of exploitation as well as volunteering, donating are key actions you can take.
By learning, reflecting and taking individual actions, we can each help to drive systemic change.
If not you, then who? If not now, then when?
💡 Three simple steps you can take to start…
Learn more: Watch a documentary, read an article or a book or listen to a podcast about modern slavery and high-risk industries and products.
Reflect: Take some time to think about your core values, how your life intersects with modern slavery and the privileges and power you hold.
Take action: This can be as simple as starting a conversation with your friends, family and networks to share what you have leant and your reflections, or you can write to a brand about your concerns, or sign a petition lobbying government for changes to law and policy.
Where can I learn more about modern slavery?
Visit the Australian Government’s modern slavery website which provides information for people interested in understanding Australia's modern slavery laws and policies and also contains useful guidance, training and resources.
Listen to Slavery Unravelled a podcast from Be Slavery Free designed to help you understand modern slavery and know what you can you do about it.
Watch The True Cost documentary that exposes the human and environmental toll of the fast fashion industry, highlighting how cheap clothing comes at a devastating cost to workers and the planet.
What actions can I take?
Start using consumer tools like the Be Slavery Free Chocolate Scorecard, the Good Fish Sustainable Seafood Guide and the Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Guide to inform your purchasing decisions.
Research and read the major and minor political parties’ policies on modern slavery and then write to your local, state and federal government representatives to ask them what actions they are taking to address modern slavery in the Australian community and in global supply chains or to tell them what you think they could be doing better.
Sign petitions to the government like the Be Slavery Free campaign which calls for the Federal Government to ban goods made with forced labour from being imported into Australia and the Australian Marine Conversation Society campaign which calls for the government to ensure that all seafood in Australia is fully traceable and properly labelled throughout the supply chain.
Consider making a one-off or regular financial donation to non-governmental organisations working to prevent and address modern slavery such as Be Slavery Free or volunteer your time instead.
Think about the ways in which you can help influence change within your own personal platform. Your workplace, school, university, sporting club are all places your leadership can help to ensure goods and services are sourced ethically.