Project

Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking

FAST mobilizes the financial sector to address modern slavery and human trafficking

Date Published
24 Jul 2023
Project Type
Research and Capacity Development
Project Status
Completed
Project Website
https://www.fastinitiative.org

The FAST initiative leverages finance to combat modern slavery and human trafficking by providing rigorous analysis, evidence-based strategies, and targeted training to empower advocates and financial sector professionals to address these issues effectively.

Originating from the Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, FAST was launched following the Commission’s 2019 report, Unlocking Potential: A Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking. The Blueprint provides a collective-action framework for different financial sector actors to take action to end modern slavery and human trafficking.

Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking

The FAST Blueprint

Five goals towards which financial sector actors can work through individual and collective action to address modern slavery and human trafficking.
Download the FAST Blueprint

Since its inception, FAST has assembled a global network of experts and anti-slavery allies, including governments, financial institutions, and civil society organizations. It has developed tools to identify illicit financial flows linked to slavery, promoted financial inclusion for survivors, and enhanced the capabilities of investors and anti-money laundering professionals. FAST’s research has reached nearly 130,000 industry professionals, and its courses, created with ACAMS, have been completed by over 55,000 anti-money laundering experts.

The initiative has partnered with investor coalitions managing assets worth $27 trillion and influenced regulations targeting the financial sector's role in ending slavery. FAST also integrates the insights of modern slavery survivors into its policies, with initiatives like the Survivor Inclusion Initiative, which provided financial access to nearly 4,500 survivors.

After 5 successful years at UNU-CPR, FAST is transitioning to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This move aims to expand its foundational work and deepen its engagement with the financial sector in the ongoing fight against modern slavery.

Research Highlights

Blog Post

Protecting Civilians in War—Why Men Shouldn't Be Forgotten

When protection efforts exclusively focus on women and children, modern slavery risks facing men are often overlooked in data, policy, and practice.

21 May 2024

News

Stock Exchange Guidance on Modern Slavery Growing, But More Needed

Although more stock exchanges reference modern slavery in their ESG disclosure guidance, variation in terms of coverage and details remains.

30 Nov 2023

UNU Macau

Accelerating Change: The Potential of Capital Market Actors in Addressing Modern Slavery

As responsible investment trends reshape risk assessment approaches and values, this FAST insight briefing helps capital market actors in high-risk sectors understand the role they can play to tackle modern slavery.
Download Insight Briefing

Recent Publications

Brief

Financial Inclusion to Protect Vulnerable Populations from Modern Slavery: A Compilation of Practices

Current practices addressing how financial inclusion can protect vulnerable populations from modern slavery.

28 May 2024

Brief

Lessons from the Survivor Inclusion Initiative

Providing financial access for survivors and other communities vulnerable to modern slavery

03 Apr 2024

Brief

Developing a Public Private Partnership Approach to Increase Financial Inclusion for Modern Slavery Survivors in Mexico

An overview of a pilot intervention in Mexico to widen access to basic banking services for modern slavery survivors.

14 Mar 2024

Brief

Exploring Migrant Survivors' Remittance Needs in the United States

Presenting the findings of a FAST survivor inclusion pilot programme.

02 Mar 2024

Brief

Tackling Illicit Financial Flows at Source: Adopting a ‘Location-Centred Approach’ to Address Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

Advanced monitoring of suspicious transactions to enhance the targeting of exploitative crimes.

02 Mar 2024

Report

Modern Slavery and Financial Exclusion: Exploring Crisis-Related Risks for Men

Enhancing efforts to combat modern slavery and promote financial inclusion, inclusive of diverse men, during times of crisis.

31 Jan 2024

Report

Asset Recovery and Restitution

Leveraging Inter-agency and Multi-stakeholder Cooperation to Facilitate Compensation for Victims and Survivors of Forced Labour and Human Trafficking.

21 Nov 2023

Brief

Artificial Intelligence: Addressing or Distorting the Modern Slavery Challenge?

Leveraging AI's potential and mitigating its risks in efforts to address modern slavery.

18 Oct 2023

Brief

How Financial Intelligence Units Can Support the More Effective Implementation of Sanctions Regimes

Leveraging the expertise, experience, and networks of FIUs in the fight against modern slavery.

18 Oct 2023

Brief

Lessons from Canada's Approach to Extending Financial Access to Survivors of Modern Slavery

Taking Canada’s financial access for survivors approach to the next level.

17 Oct 2023

Brief

Accelerating Change: The Potential of Capital Market Actors in Addressing Modern Slavery

Insights, best practice examples, case studies, and recommendations to empower Capital Market Actors.

14 Oct 2023

Brief

Preventing and Reducing Modern Slavery Risks for Diverse men in Conflict and Crisis Through Increased Financial Inclusion

Protecting diverse men from the risk of modern slavery during conflicts and crises.

14 Oct 2023

Report

Financial Needs and Vulnerability to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in Haiti

Ethically integrating local financial solutions into broader efforts to prevent exploitation in Haiti.

01 Dec 2023

Brief

Strengthening Financial Inclusion to Protect Against Modern Slavery: Applying Lessons to Bank Forcibly Displaced Persons/Refugees

Practical insights from the financial sector in addressing the financial inclusion needs of persons forcibly displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.

01 Dec 2023

Brief

Establishing an Agile Response Process to Crisis and Conflict-related Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Risks

Risk identification and mitigation measures for financial institutions to address modern slavery.

01 Dec 2023

Report

Detecting Financial Flows of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery: A Guide to Automated Transaction Monitoring

Mobilizing the financial sector to enhance detection of modern slavery.

01 Dec 2023

Resources

Toolkit

Fighting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Part 1

Helping financial organizations to identify, mitigate and prevent modern slavery risks and exploitative practices.

12 Dec 2023

Project

Survivor Inclusion Initiative (SII)

Supporting the recovery and reintegration of survivors of human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery through the provision of financial services.

02 May 2024

Toolkit

Connection & Risk Tool

Learn about your organization’s possible connections to modern slavery and human trafficking.

12 Dec 2023

Toolkit

Financial Investigations Tool

Informing financial investigations into modern slavery and human trafficking.

12 Dec 2023

Toolkit

FAST: The Podcast

Exploring the connections between global finance and modern slavery and human trafficking.

12 Dec 2023

Toolkit

The Anti-Modern Slavery Self-Assessment Tool for Financial Institutions

Helping financial sector professionals better assess whether and how their financial institutions address modern slavery and human trafficking.

13 Dec 2023

Announcements

News

Pioneering Anti-Modern Slavery Initiative Transitions to UNDP

Move comes after five successful years at UNU-CPR, and positions initiative for further expansion and country-level impact.

25 Jun 2024

News

FAST and ACAMS Unveil Spanish Translation of Vital Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Certificate

Training certificate for anti-financial crime professionals in the public and private sectors now available in Spanish.

07 Mar 2024

News

Combating Modern Slavery Through ESG in the Financial Sector

Aligning environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in financial sector actions to end modern slavery.

13 Dec 2023

News

Stock Exchange Guidance on Modern Slavery Growing, But More Needed

Although more stock exchanges reference modern slavery in their ESG disclosure guidance, variation in terms of coverage and details remains.

30 Nov 2023

Event

FAST Annual Stakeholder Convening 2023

Sharing knowledge and practices to help eradicate modern slavery.

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News

Targeting the International Anti-Money Laundering Regime to Address Human Trafficking and Forced Labour

Changing the anti-money laundering regime would bring important shifts in the global economy, resulting in less exploitation and fewer labour abuses.

20 Nov 2023

Media Coverage

Could COP28 Help Protect Africans From Growing Modern Slavery?

An opportunity to initiate conversations about environmental and social risks in financial sector investments.

18 Nov 2023

News

New Research Empowers Capital Market Actors to Address Modern Slavery

Providing a practical roadmap to better identify, prevent, mitigate, and remediate modern slavery.

10 Oct 2023

News

UNU-CPR Recommendations Unanimously Adopted by African Financial Authorities

Move promises to strengthen continent’s fight against modern slavery and human trafficking.

08 Sep 2023

News

Strengthening Global Responses to Forced Labour and Sex Trafficking

An updated training certificate for anti-financial crime professionals is strengthening the global response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

12 May 2023

News

New Policy Brief Helps Financial Sector Address Crisis-Driven Modern Slavery Risks

Identifying the steps financial institutions can take to prepare for and address risks associated with crises and displacements.

06 May 2023

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