Australian Human Rights Commission Report title October 2022 sufficient training for staff and adequate staffing levels for child protection services. Recommendation 31: The Australian Government develop and implement a National Plan for Child Wellbeing. 7 Trafficking Relevant provisions of the CAT: Articles 2, 12, 13, 14 and 16. 131. While recognising the challenges of obtaining reliable estimates of the true extent of modern slavery and human trafficking, the Commission notes with concern recent estimates that there are 49.6 million people currently living in modern slavery across the world, and that this figure has grown by around 10 million people since 2017.188 The number of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking in Australia from 2015–16 to 2016–17 was estimated as between 1,300 and 1,900.189 132. The Commission welcomes the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (Modern Slavery Act), which includes Government as a reporting entity. The current statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act is an opportunity to further strengthen Australia’s anti-slavery legal framework. In particular, the Modern Slavery Act could be strengthened by establishing an independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner at the federal level (whose functions would include awareness raising, monitoring and oversight of the Modern Slavery Act), introducing financial penalties for non-compliant entities, and establishing a national compensation scheme for victims. The Commission notes that the NSW Government has recently appointed an Anti-slavery Commissioner, the first to do so at the state and territory level.190 133. The Commission also welcomes the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-25 (National Action Plan)191 and supports the full resourcing and implementation of the five National Strategic Priorities and 46 action items that are identified in the National Action Plan. The commitment to support and protect victims and survivors is an important focus and would be further strengthened by facilitating the provision of alternative supports and pathways to remedies which are not contingent on participation in criminal prosecutions. 134. Australia’s international engagement strategy on human trafficking and modern slavery: Delivering in partnership (International Engagement 31