2016
ANNUAL R E P O RT
2016
2016
Chairperson’s Report
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ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES CAN I COMMEND SAS’S ANNUAL REPORT TO YOU. WE MIGHT BE SMALL IN STATURE BUT WE BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE WE’RE FIGHTING FOR.
he trading and trafficking of fellow human beings is a vile scourge on human society throughout the ages. Yet the baffling statistics in our current era show that it is far from over. Stand Against Slavery is a small, yet significant, justice initiative that exists to see such an immoral industry exposed and eradicated. We punch well above our weight in terms of manpower and resources, and yet find our selves often contacted by media as a “go-to” advocate for those entwined in its grasp. Slavery is alive and well around our world. It takes many forms, from high profile cases of people sold into the sex trade, through to corrupt trafficking of international refugees, and even here in New Zealand the tragic cases of people forced to work for no or
little remuneration. SAS seeks to provide a voice for those trapped in slavery, and advocates for its total abolition. Through the tireless efforts of its CEO, SAS is shining the light onto dark practices and illuminating pathways to hope and freedom. We might be small in stature, and most of the time seriously under resourced, but we believe in the cause we’re fighting for. The following pages of this report demonstrate some significant steps taken this past year. On behalf of the Board of Trustees can I commend SAS to you as a justice initiative well worthy of your investment and charitable donations. Brian N. Winslade Chairperson SAS Board of Trustees 2016
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CEO’s Report WELCOME TO THE 2016 ANNUAL REPORT FOR STAND AGAINST SLAVERY. AT THE END OF ITS SECOND FULL REPORTING YEAR OF OPERATIONS SAS HAS CONSOLIDATED, DOWNSIZED, AND CONTINUES TO BUILD A SOLID PLATFORM AS A KEY NGO IN NZ.
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t the beginning of this financial year I began a personal transformation that saw me lower my physical weight by half. I did this not only to be healthy, I also did it to hopefully extend my life as I fight for a slave free world. SAS has also gone through a transformation as it scaled back its operations in order to extend the life of the organisation as it carves out an important contribution here in New Zealand, and around the world. The changes and the activities of the last twelve months have been a positive refinement of who we are and what we do. Like all non profit organisations, who rely on the generosity of donors, the New Zealand Charities Services, under which SAS is registered, has increased the reporting expectations to ensure we are doing what we say we are doing. This is a good thing and we were able to submit a good report of our activities to the New Zealand Government. This Annual Report has much of the
Performance Report details plus some extras. Included is a review of the last twelve months as well as a special highlight of New Zealand’s first, and therefore historic, human trafficking trial. You will see by our financial report that we have had to heavily rely on reserves this year, and we are thankful there was sufficient to help us achieve many things throughout the year. I trust that as you read this third annual report it will give you a good overview of what Stand Against Slavery is about and how it has contributed to the anti-slavery movement. If you would like to know more please do not hesitate to contact me. Let’s catch up online, or if we are in the same city, catch up for coffee. Peter J. Mihaere E: peter@standagainstslavery.com P: +64 9 526 6361
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Peter at ‘home’ in the SAS world headquarters when he is not on the road or meeting someone in a café.
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The Year in Review 2015/16 DURING 2015 SAS EXPERIENCED SOME RIGHTSIZING AS AN ORGANISATION. IT ALSO WITNESSED THE FIRST HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRIAL IN NEW ZEALAND.
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s Stand Against Slavery settled into its work for the 2015/16 period it experienced some rightsizing. We farewelled our first employee, Nicola Winthrop, as she and her family moved to Cambodia to work with disadvantaged communities in Phnom Penh. It was Nicola’s tireless and enthusiastic commitment to our goals and aspirations that enables SAS to be what it is today. Thank you Nicola.
Our resident storyteller, Richard Nauck, also left us to take up a role in another organisation. His work in developing our message has been instrumental in SAS being able to articulate its, Why, How and What. Richard continues to serve SAS as a member of our board. Shanna Bosley gifted a year of service to SAS as part of her PhD studies. She concluded with us at the end of 2015, but is still in close connection with SAS.
The awesome departing SAS team members Richard, Nicola & Shanna
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New Plymouth Public Event with Steph Lambert Peter Mihaere & Mark Jackson
The year was filled with travel to destinations such as Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Hamilton, Blenheim, Nelson in New Zealand, and overseas trips to the United States (Cincinnati/ Washington DC & San Francisco) and India. Peter was away a total of 63 days during the year. SAS clocked up over 100 meetings during the year from public organised presentations, to national and international government meetings, to sitting in a court room for six weeks, to church meetings and many cups of coffee. Part of SAS’s extended work is supporting Freeset, a business in Kolkata India, in the business of offering freedom to women trapped in the sex trade. Peter is a Director of the holding company, Freeset International Limited, and annually travels to Kolkata for board meetings. Early in 2016 SAS was invited to provide feedback on a possible NGO Advisory Panel to be convened to interact with the New Zealand Government on matters related to Trafficking in Persons. Peter Mihaere also submitted an alternative strategy document which was warmly received and is being considered during the next reporting period.
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SAS SERVICE PERFORMANCE
SAS HAD TWO PRIMARY OUTPUTS FOR THE PERIOD TO 31 MARCH 2016. 1. DEVELOP SAS ADVOCACY AND 2. DEVELOP SAS CONSULTING. HERE IS OUR OUTCOMES AS REPORTED TO THE CHARITIES SERVICES AS A REGISTERED NZ CHARITY. OUTPUT Develop SAS advocacy. OUTCOME JJ SAS submitted a proposal to the Inter Agency Working Group on People Trafficking in order to provide a potential pathway for better collaboration between civil society/NGO community and the NZ government. JJ SAS had active participation in the Human Trafficking Research Coalition that has commissioned the University of Auckland to study the level of worker exploitation across New Zealand. JJ SAS has intentionally developed strong relationships with various NZ Government offices at the political, policy and enforcement level. JJ SAS met with the US Consulate in Auckland and US State Department personnel in Washington DC, as well as making submissions to the 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report from an NGO perspective.
JJ SAS was the sole full-tme NGO representative at New Zealand’s first Human Trafficking Trial in November and December 2015. This enabled the New Zealand public, primarily through print media, to get a good idea of the issue of people trafficking in New Zealand. During the trial SAS was able to provide feedback to the Serious Offences Unit of Immigration New Zealand on observations during the trial. JJ SAS continued to attend and participate in meetings with various NGO’s, businesses, lawyers, and churches, developing relations and increasing awareness of the issue of exploitation and slavery in NZ and around the world. JJ Raising awareness presentations at Ngaruawahia College. JJ SAS CEO Peter Mihaere is an active Board Member of Freeset International Limited continuing to contribute advice and governance.
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OUTPUT Develop SAS Consulting OUTCOME JJ SAS successfully established a contract with a key New Zealand exporter association to provide initial survey information as to the potential prevalence of exploitation across their industry. Commercial confidentiality prevents us from disclosing the industry, organisation, and specific work at this time.
Peter is an active member of the Governance Board of Directors of Freeset International Limited. SAS Board Chair, Brian Winslade, is also a Director. This picture is taken in Kolkata India.
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NZ’s FIRST HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRIAL
HISTORY WAS MADE ON 9 NOVEMBER 2015 WHEN NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRIAL BEGAN. SAS CEO PETER MIHAERE SAT IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY FOR JUST OVER SIX WEEKS TO CAPTURE EVERY MOMENT.
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o say this was a historic moment in New Zealand is an understatement. Ironically very few others in New Zealand seemed to think it was important.
SAS was involved in the media coverage in 2014 when Mr Jaswinder Singh Sangha, and his brother Mr Satnam Singh from Motueka were arrested for trafficking 18 Indian nationals unlawfully into NZ. Jawswinder was further charged, along with Mr Kulwant Singh from Auckland, with submitting false refugee status claims with Immigration NZ (INZ). The courtroom environment during November and December of 2015 was charged with uncertainty, emotion, clashing cultures and a legal system that seemed to pause on a regular basis to clarify what it was they were attempting to do. On reflection there were a number of challenges that dedicated staff from INZ conceded could have been handled better. This was as much a learning environment as it was a High Court trial. Being in the courtroom afforded me the unique
experience of recording the ‘drama’ that unfolded in the first case of its kind in New Zealand. One of the ‘drama’s’ was the cross-cultural clash. At one point a defence lawyer was exasperated by a complainants testimony. On the one hand this persons testimony on the stand was being declared ‘the truth’, as you would expect. However the lawyer referred him to two earlier interview testimonies where the information appeared to be quite different. In each case the complainant insisted that all of his testimony was correct, but the lawyer, in his western worldview suggested to the complainant, and of course to the jury, that it is not possible for three testimonial accounts, that were different, could mean everything was true. As I sat in the courtroom I reflected that I understood what the complainant was saying, believing the testimony was true from their perspective. At a break in proceedings the lawyer stormed out of the courtroom announcing in dramatic fashion, so everyone could hear, asking “Where is the truth?”
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‘Truth was in the room’ I thought, ‘but no one is listening for it’. The complainants were testifying that they we duped into paying $30-$34,000 New Zealand Dollars for the right to come to NZ and work, get 2 year work visas, and gain a fast track to Permanent Residency.
Peter Mihaere spent six weeks at the Nelson High Court observing NZ’s first Human Trial.
On arrival to NZ, having only secured seven month visas, there was no work and a plot developed to get them all to complete false refugee status claims so they could stay in NZ. These claims were reject by INZ and caused the complainants to scatter around NZ illegally as overstayers. The crown argued that, not only did Jaswinder and his brother knowingly traffic these men into NZ for exorbitant fees, but Jaswinder and Kulwant masterminded the refugee stories. Jaswinder and Satnam were found not guilty on charges of Human Trafficking, but Jaswinder and Kulwant were found guilty of submitting falsified forms.
Satnam Singh (centre of seated men) & Jaswinder Singh Sangha (standing) were found not guilty on Human Trafficking charges.
Kulwant was sentenced to two years one month imprisonment and Jaswinder was sentenced to ten months home detention and 300 hours community service. Whilst a disappointing result on the human trafficking charges I believe if all the complainants (only 9 of 18 actually got to testify) and two additional witnesses who were unavailable, were able to testify, the result could easily have had a different outcome. Kulwant & Jaswinder were found guilty falsifying refugee status claims.
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Financial Result STAND AGAINST SLAVERY WAS RELIANT ON RESERVES TO COMPLETE THE FINANCIAL YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2016.
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uring the previous financial period SAS received a significant contribution from a private donor. This has gone a long way to ensuring the operation of the organisation was maintained during the current financial period. We have appreciated the consistent regular donations from a number of donors. Without donors we are not able to do our work and this has been most helpful.
$1,888 INTEREST INCOME $120,486 total INCOME
$1,557 OTHER INCOME $37,829 DONATIONS $79,212 FROM RESERVES
SAS ran its first fundraising campaign called The Good Friday Appeal. This appeal, aimed at Churches, saw twelve sign-up resulting in raising just over $8,000. Plans are underway for the 2017 Appeal that will enable a wider range of churches and groups to participate. Staffing Costs for the coming financial period has reduced to 1 part-time person in order to reduce expenditure for the next few years. CEO Peter Mihaere received sound advice from a philanthropic organisation in the United States encouraging SAS to be as lean an organisation as possible. This has not only become a necessity, but has been a good way to operate.
$120,486 total expenses
$24,315 administration $96,171 staff cost
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THE YEAR AHEAD 2017 MORE OF THE SAME AND MORE IS THE KEY FOR THE 2016-17 REPORTING PERIOD.
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ith staffing of SAS now down to one part-time employee focus and time-effective delivery of services is needed.
SAS Consulting will begin delivering contract services during the year and we plan to make ourselves available to a wide number of export industries who want to evaluate if there is exploitation in their industry, and if detected, to eradicate. This will be helped through the publishing of the worker exploitation research project by the University of Auckland. SAS as a key member of the Human Trafficking Research Coalition are looking to publish this research in December 2016. SAS Consulting is also available to commercial enterprises, NGO’s, and government agencies, who are involved in some form of combating slavery and human trafficking by providing strengthening services, to individuals, particularly leaders & abolitionists, and/or organisations. SAS Advocacy will continue its key work of
developing relationships across civil society and government. This will include being an inaugural member of the Consultative Group on Trafficking in Persons (CGTIP). Plans are already underway to run some awareness and fundraising campaigns in 2017, and a new project is emerging that will add resources for children. We would encourage your support of us as individuals, groups, churches or organisations. An investment in SAS will see us realise our two universal goals: 1. Fighting for a slave free NZ by 2040. 2. Fighting for a slave free World by 2099. We are in the long term race of abolishing slavery and human trafficking. That will take decades of relationship development and chipping away at the big issues. This next twelve months is another layer on the way to achieving our goals and aspirations.
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STAND AGAINST SLAVERY ESSENTIAL FOR KEEPING OUR EYE ON THE BALL WE MUST KEEP COMING BACK TO THE BASICS... OUR WHY... OUR HOW... OUR WHAT... OUR WHY We gather around a common belief that all humans are made in the image of the Creator God. It follows then, that every human has certain unalienable rights that should never be contravened. We believe that chief among these rights, is the right to be free, or as the UN Declaration of Human Rights puts it: ‘no one shall be held in slavery or servitude…’ We believe the only way to rid our world of the tyranny of slavery is for those with power to work together for those who are yet to have power. Our purpose, our why, is to stand together for as long as is necessary to see a slave free world.
OUR HOW We are convinced that there are five essential ingredients – collaboration; knowledge; spotlight; action; and strength – to creating an environment for a slave free world, and we are committed to investing everything we have to ensuring these five ingredients flourish in our world.
OUR WHAT We believe our unique contribution is one layer back from the front line. If we can connect government with civil society; the general public with front line organisations; business with enforcement agencies; and survivors with support providers, we are doing our jobs. We achieve this through SAS Advocacy and SAS Consulting.
JOIN THE FIGHT If you are interested in joining the flight for a slave free world we encourage you to check out our website and social media platforms. See the back page cover for details.
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Peter recently appearing on the Paul Henry Show.
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Stand Against Slavery is a registered Charity with the New Zealand Charities Commission (CC50447). Stand Against Slavery P O Box 12220 Penrose, Auckland 1642 +64 9 526 6361 info@standagainstslavery.com /sasnz @stoppingslavery www.standagainstslavery.com