ACAMS and Finance Against Slavery & Trafficking (FAST) have announced the launch of a Japanese version of the social-impact certificate program for anti-financial crime professionals. The program, called “Fighting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking – Part 1,” aims to empower illicit finance investigators with the necessary tools to identify forced labor, sex trafficking, and other forms of modern slavery.
The certificate program was introduced at ACAMS’ Japan Assembly and provides strategies for AFC professionals to identify, investigate, and report financial activities linked to human traffickers. It includes the analysis of new case studies to enhance participants’ understanding and awareness of modern slavery.
The need for such a program is evident from the 2023 Global Slavery Index, which reports that Asia-Pacific has the largest number of people in modern slavery, with an estimated 23.9 million individuals affected. In Japan alone, there are approximately 144,000 people experiencing modern slavery, equating to 1.1 people per thousand. These statistics highlight the urgency of tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, as they represent a significant criminal economy generating about $150 billion in annual profits from forced labor, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).
ACAMS CEO Scott Liles emphasized the importance of collaboration between financial institutions and law enforcement in combatting modern slavery. He stated that mapping the illicit money flows associated with this criminal activity is crucial to its eradication.
The Japanese translation of the certificate program is just the beginning, as ACAMS and FAST plan to release French and Spanish versions as well. This initiative aims to make the training accessible to more professionals in the financial sector, thereby strengthening the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking on a global scale.
Alice Eckstein, Project Director of the FAST Initiative, emphasized that involving the financial sector is crucial in addressing the risks associated with modern slavery and human trafficking. Translating the ACAMS-FAST course into different languages helps bolster the sector’s capacity to act effectively.
ACAMS has been actively launching social-impact certificates since 2020. Three of these certificates, including “Fighting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking – Part 1 and Part 2,” were created in collaboration with FAST. The organization has also translated two of its social impact certificates, “Ending Illegal Wildlife – Part 1” and “Fighting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking – Part 1,” into Simplified Chinese and Japanese.
By providing access to these training certificates, ACAMS aims to equip more professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to address the widespread issue of modern slavery and human trafficking.
To learn more about the ACAMS social-impact certificates, please visit: [https://www.acams.org/en/training/acams-social-impact-certificates](https://www.acams.org/en/training/acams-social-impact-certificates)
The Japanese version of the “Fighting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking – Part 1” certificate can be accessed at: [www.acams.org/ja/トレーニング/認定トレーニングコース/現代奴隷制および人身売買防止の取り組み](www.acams.org/ja/トレーニング/認定トレーニングコース/現代奴隷制および人身売買防止の取り組み)
The initiative by ACAMS and FAST reflects the collective effort of financial institutions, organizations, and professionals worldwide to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. Their collaboration is a critical step toward creating a safer and more equitable world for all individuals.