On November 24, 2024, the Cameroon Migrant Network (CMN) — a grassroots migrant-led organisation advocating for the rights and dignity of African migrant workers — was honoured to participate in a high-level engagement with former British Prime Minister Theresa May during her official visit to Bahrain. The meeting took place at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Expert Protection Center at LMRA Selah in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Mrs. May, a globally recognised champion against modern slavery and founder of the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, met with key stakeholders working on the frontlines of migrant protection in the Gulf region. CMN, as one of the few African migrant-led groups represented, shared firsthand experiences of the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers from Cameroon and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The conversation addressed the systemic issues that contribute to modern slavery and human trafficking, especially within the Kafala sponsorship system: exploitative recruitment practices and high agent fees, confiscation of passports and the inability to change employers, physical and emotional abuse, wage theft and excessive working hours, and the lack of access to legal recourse or mental health support.
CMN called for stronger protection mechanisms — accessible reporting channels for abuse, collaboration with governments, embassies and international bodies to identify, rescue and rehabilitate victims, expansion of pre-departure and post-arrival orientation, and community-based support systems that break isolation through peer-led advocacy and counselling.
Mrs. May commended the work of CMN and other advocacy groups present and encouraged continued grassroots mobilisation, stating that the fight against modern slavery cannot be won without the voices and leadership of those directly affected. The engagement marks a milestone for CMN's visibility and influence on the global stage.
