𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗥: 𝗖𝗢𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟 𝗩𝗦. 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬

While both coercive control and modern slavery involve the exertion of power and control over individuals, and both can be deeply damaging and exploitative, they are technically different concepts and fall under different areas of law and policy.

Coercive control is a term often used to describe a pattern of behavior within abusive intimate or familial relationships, where one party seeks to control, degrade, and restrict the freedom of another. It can involve various types of abuse, such as emotional, psychological, financial, or physical.

Modern slavery, on the other hand, is a broader term that refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot leave due to threats, violence, coercion, deception, or abuse of power. It can take many forms, including human trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, forced marriage, and child exploitation, among others.

There are certainly areas of overlap, particularly in cases of domestic servitude or forced marriage, where coercive control may be one of the tools used to maintain the exploitative situation. However, they are not identical concepts.

In some jurisdictions, coercive control is recognized as a distinct form of domestic abuse and is criminalized. Similarly, modern slavery is illegal under international law and in most countries, and specific legislation has been introduced in many places to tackle it. Both coercive control and modern slavery require targeted and sensitive approaches to identify, intervene, and support victims.

EOT

C/o @RMIT Law School