Soroptimist international's work in the prevention of modern-day slavery: Wales as a good practice example of partnership working

Abstract

Soroptimist International (SI) is a worldwide nongovernmental women's organization, which was founded in 1921 in Oakland, California, with the aims of bringing about change to the lives of women and girls worldwide. It is a global network of 4 federations with a volunteer membership of over 75,000. Soroptimism has as its mission transforming lives through education, empowerment, and creating opportunities. Many of its projects over the last decade have aimed to reduce and combat human trafficking and modern slavery, initially for the purpose of sexual exploitation of women, but in recent years to combat other forms of trafficking, including in supply chains. This article explains and provides examples of how worldwide member clubs of Soroptimist International continue to support the United Nations' "4P" paradigm through the participation in stakeholder partnerships, consistent lobbying of their governments to gain appropriate legislative measures, and raising awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking and modern slavery and by working with other agencies and nongovernmental organizations to fulfil a commitment to aid the survivors of trafficking in order to banish slavery from our world. There is more that the four federations can achieve, especially where the Soroptimist International takes a lead in directing all four federations.