Emerging yet hidden: An SSI virtual parallel event at CSW 2025

SSI invites you to attend virtually Emerging yet hidden, a parallel event at the 2025 Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 

“Slavery has been abolished for over 200 years, yet it is increasingly emerging in different forms yet hidden underneath many societies." - Grace Wong, Chief Advocacy Officer, International Justice Mission to End Slavery in our Lifetime. 

Modern-day slavery, including practices like domestic servitude, forced marriage, labour exploitation, and human trafficking, is an increasing concern in communities and for governments in host countries where migrants and refugees settle. These practices often remain "hidden in plain sight" and are deeply connected to gender-based violence, affecting migrant and refugee women more so due to migration and associated structural barriers to largely. 

This event will explore the rise of modern-day slavery in Australia, underlying issues and enablers while examining the collective efforts of communities, NGOs, and governments around prevention and intervention. In collaboration with other Australian and Asian NGOs, we hope to inspire collaborative action and bring awareness to this critical issue. 

Speakers
Grace Wong , Chief Advocacy Officer, International Justice Mission Australia 

Hafsar Tameesuddin, Co-secretary general of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network
Linda Baxter, DFV Program Coordinator, SToP Modern Slavery Project, SSI 

Watch these videos to learn more about how SSI works with communities in Australia around modern slavery:

Forced marriage: https://youtu.be/ELFmSOKrto8
Domestic servitude: https://youtu.be/EI7T0LY4ZkA
Forced labour: https://youtu.be/maWUWikDI2M

The CSW is the leading global intergovernmental body focused on advancing gender equality and women's empowerment. It plays a key role in promoting women's rights, documenting their experiences worldwide, and shaping global gender equality standards.  

At its annual two-week session, UN Member States, civil society organisations, and UN entities meet in New York to review progress on the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Beijing+5 session (2000), and emerging gender equality issues. 

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025 (AEDT) 

Time: 9.30 am - 11am (AEDT) 

Location: Virtual webinar via Zoom link here.  

RSVP: Register via Humanitix.