A historic modern slavery bill in Australia is being praised as the country takes the lead in ending the practice.
Australia has become the first country in the world to recognize the popular tourism practice of visiting overseas orphanages is forcing young children into slavery in many cases.
The legislation forms part of a wider recognition of the impacts volunteer tourism or ‘voluntourism’ can have on developing overseas nations, with claims many children in these orphanages are not orphans, but were forced to work and solicit donations.
A June report from the US State Department said “an estimated 80 to 90 percent of them have at least one living parent.”
