This UNU-CPR Insight Briefing provides an overview of a pilot intervention in Mexico to widen access to basic banking services for modern slavery survivors. Improving the financial inclusion of victims/survivors of modern slavery, as well as others vulnerable to exploitation, is an important aspect of reducing and preventing trafficking and slavery, and as such, can contribute to improving the economic health of a country. It is, moreover, an essential part of protecting survivors and supporting their financial recovery, reintegration, and access to remedy.
The Briefing outlines the approach that UNU-CPR's Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) initiative took to initiate the pilot intervention: establishing a Working group of Mexican stakeholders; undertaking desk-based research on modern slavery and financial exclusion; and drafting a concept note that summarized key findings on modern slavery and financial inclusion in Mexico. This concept note was shared to mobilize stakeholders across various sectors, including government, international organizations, financial institutions, and NGOs.
Implementation of the pilot helped to identify several key insights and recommendations that can inform similar initiatives moving forward. These include:
- Building a multistakeholder coalition across the public and private sectors was key - building understanding of survivor needs, informing financial institutions about those needs, and getting government buy-in on regulatory best practices.
- Taking a collaborative, staged approach - which helped increase awareness about modern slavery-related challenges and the obstacles survivors faced while also strengthening the commitment of different stakeholders.
- Sharing insights across jurisdictions: FAST used its global reach to share critical lessons and best practices.
Access 'Developing a Public Private Partnership Approach to Increase Financial Inclusion for Modern Slavery Survivors in Mexico' here.
