The U.K. secretary of state for international development pledged 40 million pounds ($54 million) to combat “modern slavery” on Friday in a move celebrated by many in the aid community — although some worried that the issue, which has also been a focus of U.K. domestic policy, still lacks a coherent and internationally sanctioned definition.

Announcing one of the earliest pledges of her tenure as aid chief ahead of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on Saturday, Penny Mordaunt said: “It is time to eradicate this shameful practice. Slavery, anywhere, must not be tolerated in the 21st century, and our work to stamp out this practice abroad will support our effort to end slavery in the U.K. This is a long-term challenge and others must follow our lead.”

“Modern slavery” is a term that can refer to human trafficking, forced labor, or forced marriage; however, there are currently multiple definitions in use. The Sustainable Development Agenda under Goal 8 calls for countries to “take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking.”

Read the full article about the effort to eradicate "modern slavery" by Molly Anders at Devex International Development.