Princess Eugenie’s charity has spoken out about modern slavery to mark an important anniversary.
The Princess of York co-founded the Anti-Slavery Collective in 2017, and works strenuously to end the practice all over the globe.
Writing on its Instagram story, the Anti-Slavery Collective said: “This week marks the eighth anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act, the Act which gained Royal Assent on 26 March 2015.
“Adopting the legislation was arguably a watershed moment & a reenactment of the anti-slavery spirit of the early 1800s, when the UK Parliament adopted the abolition of the Slave Trade Act (1807), outlawing the British Atlantic Slave Trade.
Princess Eugenie’s charity speaks out on important issue to mark anniversary
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“Slavery has since mutated & taken on different complex forms.
“An estimated 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery today.
“The Act was, therefore, adopted in response to the growing exploitations in the UK, which were not clearly captured in a comprehensive legislation.”
Eugenie’s charity continued: “Following its adoption, the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), [became] the national framework.
“The Act consolidated the existing offences of slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and trafficking in one piece of legislation.
“Through which cases of modern slavery are identified and referred to the support service was extended to all victims of modern slavery in England & Wales.”
The Anti-Slavery Collective was born out of a trip to Kolkata in 2012, where Princess Eugenie and her friend, Julia de Boinville, met Aloka Mitra.
Mitra is a social activist who has worked for over 35 years supporting vulnerable women and children in India.
During this trip, Eugenie and de Boinville became aware of the prevalence of modern slavery, which they realised was a global issue.
The Princess of York has previously complained that the issue of modern slavery is “never really talked about”.
Over the weekend, Princess Eugenie praised her older sister, Princess Beatrice, who wrote an eye-opening Vogue article about her “overwhelming fear” when facing premature birth.
Eugenie wrote on Instagram: “Proud of you Beabea and mighty Athena,” referring to Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi’s daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose.
