A/HRC/54/30
I. Introduction
1.
There is generally limited research on the interrelation between homelessness and
contemporary forms of slavery. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on
contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, intends to explore the
extent to which persons experiencing homelessness are vulnerable to contemporary forms of
slavery and what structural and other factors put them at risk. The Special Rapporteur
identifies challenges in protecting persons experiencing homelessness from contemporary
forms of slavery and highlights some promising measures and initiatives adopted by States
and private actors with the objective of preventing persons experiencing homelessness from
being pushed into contemporary forms of slavery.
2.
To inform his research, the Special Rapporteur issued a call for input to a wide range
of stakeholders, including States Members of the United Nations, national human rights
institutions, civil society organizations, United Nations entities and regional human rights
bodies. He wishes to thank all entities that responded and welcomes the engagement
demonstrated in this process.1 The Special Rapporteur also drew on information gathered
from desk research and consultations with multiple stakeholders.
3.
The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and
consequences consulted with the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing in the
development of the present report, and the latter endorses its main findings and
recommendations.
II. Activities of the Special Rapporteur
4.
Between September 2022 and the time of preparing the present report, the Special
Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences,
undertook a number of activities and in particular strengthened engagement with the business
community. The following is an overview of the activities undertaken during the reporting
period.
5.
In September 2022, after presenting his report on contemporary forms of slavery
affecting persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minority communities to the
Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur participated in an online side event sponsored
jointly by Anti-Slavery International, the United Nations voluntary trust fund on
contemporary forms of slavery and Minority Rights Group International. He also attended
the United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia-Pacific, held in
Bangkok in June 2023.
6.
In October 2022, the Special Rapporteur presented a thematic report on contemporary
forms of slavery in the informal economy to the seventy-seventh session of the General
Assembly.
7.
In November 2022, the Special Rapporteur attended the Convening Africa 2022
conference, organized by Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking and the Anti-MoneyLaundering Task Force of South Africa, which was focused on the role of the Government
and the United Nations in addressing finance and contemporary forms of slavery and
trafficking in persons. He also participated in the conference of the United Kingdom
Sustainable Investment and Financial Association, held in November 2022, and held a
meeting with the World Benchmarking Alliance.
8.
In December 2022, the Special Rapporteur attended a public event organized by the
United Nations voluntary trust fund on contemporary forms of slavery on the occasion of the
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (2 December) and a launch event of the Forced
Labour Observatory of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which provides
1
2
All submissions received are available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/2023/call-inputhomelessness-cause-and-consequence-contemporary-forms-slavery.
GE.23-12640