The Liechtenstein Initiative is a public-private partnership between the Governments of Liechtenstein, Australia and the Netherlands, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research – acting as its Secretariat – and Liechtenstein private sector and foundations. It aims to put the financial sector at the heart of global efforts to end modern slavery and human trafficking and accelerate action in eradicating these practices. The Commission consisted of 25 Commissioners, including survivors of human trafficking and child slavery; leaders from hedge funds, commercial and retail banks, global regulatory authorities, global trade unions and a development finance institution; institutional investors; a United Nations mandate-holder; and leaders in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking. The Commission’s structure highlights the need to approach this issue through collaborative, multi-stakeholder efforts. Over its one-year mandate (September 2018 to September 2019), the Commission held four consultations – in New York, Liechtenstein, Sydney and The Hague – to consider different ways the financial sector can accelerate its engagement in addressing and preventing these practices: from compliance and regulatory regimes, to responsible lending and investment, remedy, financial inclusion, financial technology and international cooperation. This is the final report of the Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. The Liechtenstein Initiative continues as Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST), an initiative to promote implementation of this Blueprint.
United Nations University, September 2019.
