University signs up to the Slave-Free Alliance
As part of our commitment to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the University has become the first higher education institution to become a member of Slave-Free Alliance.
Raising awareness on the issues of human trafficking and forced labour is a key part of the University’s work to promote responsible procurement.
Slave-Free Alliance is part of Hope for Justice, a Manchester-based charity which exists to bring an end to modern slavery by preventing exploitation, rescuing victims, restoring lives and reforming society.
By joining Slave-Free Alliance the University has joined a global movement, demonstrating commitment to raising awareness of modern slavery and working to promote a zero tolerance approach to the practice in our supply chains.
A key benefit of joining Slave-Free Alliance is to independently review, benchmark and develop responsible University systems and processes to combat modern slavery.
“As a University with social responsibility as a core goal, joining Slave-Free Alliance helps bolster our existing approach in this important area,” said Director of Finance Steve Dauncey. “The opportunity to join a Manchester-based charity that puts victims first by removing them from situations of exploitation, and also working to prevent individuals from becoming enslaved, is a great fit for us. The potential to engage more widely with our staff and students on this issue is very significant. We are thrilled to see The University of Manchester becoming the first higher education institution to join Slave-Free Alliance, and we hope this will encourage the rest of the sector to take notice and take action,” said Ben Cooley, CEO of Slave-Free Alliance and Hope for Justice. It is a clear sign of the University’s commitment to working towards a slave-free supply chain, helping ensure that the products it buys and the services it uses have not been tainted by the barbaric crime of human trafficking for forced labour. We look forward to working closely with the University over the coming months to further develop this partnership.”
Further information
More information on our commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals can be found at:
More information on the Slave-Free Alliance can be found at: