Author: Vassilia Orfanou, PhD, Post Doc
Headline Diplomat eMagazine
“Human trafficking is a $150 billion a year global industry and can’t be fully addressed without businesses taking active and effective measures to reduce the potential for exploitation within their own systems,” said Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris, as quoted by Forbes.
A 2022 report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) presents that around 50 million people are now trapped in modern slavery or forced labor. An estimated 6.3 million people are also reported to be in forced commercial sexual exploitation.
Coupled with this report, a 2014 report from ILO reflects that $99 billion is made from commercial sexual exploitation and $51 billion from forced economic exploitation. Such numbers in fact show that human trafficking is one of the most lucrative organized crime rackets in the world, just after counterfeit/pirated product racketing and drug trafficking.
Is there any hope in the horizon?
Despite the scale of this problem, many companies are stepping up to take action against human trafficking, using their resources, expertise, and influence to make a difference. They clearly recognize the problem; their role in the fight and the necessity to take concrete steps to break the chains that bind its victims.
One way companies combat human trafficking is by aligning their initiatives with the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Model Principles and Policies, as reported by the voluntary association.
The ABA emphasizes the role of socially responsible businesses in combating human trafficking and child labor in supply chains. By implementing the ABA guidelines, corporations could improve their supply chain stability and sustainability, as well as appeal to socially conscious consumers and institutional investors.
However, despite the positive impact, companies face legal consequences related to human trafficking and child labor. Potential liability under the Victims of Trafficking Protection Act of 2000, state laws becoming tougher, litigation filed by victims, fines, and negative publicity are some of the risks corporations face.
“Significant potential criminal penalties and civil liability already attend labor trafficking. Congress enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000,” says Christopher Johnson, CEO and Co-Founder of the Center for Justice, Rights & Dignity for the ABA. “Offenders also violate Title VII, the Fair Labor Standards Act and state equivalents, and the Thirteenth Amendment. Corporations could also consider the social and ethical implications.”
To combat such risks and consequences, the ABA has formed a Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Business Law Section created a working group to develop the ABA Model Business and Supplier Policies on Labor Trafficking and Child Labor.
To ensure the success of this fight against human trafficking, the ABA advocates for more training for lawyers and law enforcement officials, as well as a stronger pro bono network to address the civil legal needs of trafficking victims.
The ABA emphasizes the role of socially responsible businesses in combating human trafficking and child labor in supply chains. Unstable supply chains, worker unrest, consumer boycotts, product recalls, and reputational damage are some of the business risks posed by human trafficking, notes the ABA.
However, members of the Global Business Coalition Against Trafficking (gBCAT), such as Coca-Cola, Hilton Worldwide, Ford Motor Company, and others, are taking steps to mitigate such risks through initiatives that align with the ABA Model Principles and Policies.
Many companies across various sectors recognize the impact of human trafficking on their operations and are taking steps to ensure that their business practices do not contribute to the problem. Many companies are partnering with non-profit organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to implement programs aimed at preventing human trafficking and supporting victims.
In 2017, ECPAT-USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to combating the sexual exploitation of children, announced its partnership with top hospitality companies in the USA, including Hilton Worldwide, Real Hospitality Group, and 18 others, “to integrate child protection practices into their businesses.”
Through this partnership, the companies committed to training all their employees on identifying and reporting human trafficking on their properties. The businesses also pledged to create a code of conduct for their suppliers, contractors, and vendors, prohibiting them from engaging in human trafficking.
Hilton Worldwide
Hilton’s CSR program, Travel with Purpose, includes a commitment to training its employees on identifying and reporting human trafficking, as well as partnering with organizations to combat the issue.
The company analyzed in its Travel with Purpose Corporate Responsibility Report it had trained more than 2,400 of its general managers in child trafficking awareness and has provided education to over 58,000 team members on issues related to ethics, human rights, and child trafficking through the global rollout of its Code of Conduct in 2014.
Hilton has also made efforts to support at-risk children around the world. Through the Hilton Anti-Trafficking Fund, the company has reached an estimated 1,500 at-risk children in Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. These efforts have been made in sponsorship and partnership with organizations such as ECPAT-USA.
“One risk area that has been identified in the hospitality industry is human trafficking. The hospitality business, especially hotels, and restaurants, may be used for human trafficking unknowingly,” reads part of the company’s report on its corporate responsibility. “We made our first public commitment to address the issue of child trafficking and sexual exploitation by signing the ECPAT Code of Conduct in 2011 and have since focused on training and educating hotels and partnering with experts to create survivor empowerment programs in key markets.”
Hilton’s commitment to fighting human trafficking has set an example for the hospitality industry and beyond. By providing education and resources to its employees and investing in the communities in which it operates, Hilton is taking an active role in the fight against modern-day slavery.
Delta Airlines
Another major company working to address human trafficking is Delta Airlines. Delta announced in February 2023 that it had implemented training programs for over 60,000 employees, focusing on recognizing the signs of trafficking and reporting suspicious activity. The airline has also partnered with the Polaris Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking, to develop anti-trafficking initiatives, educate travelers, and support survivors.
“Approximately 93 million passengers traveled through the Atlanta airport in 2022, with 75% traveling with Delta,” Meg Taylor, Delta’s Deputy General Counsel & Chief Litigation Counsel, said. “We have the opportunity to educate millions of travelers each year on ways to identify and stop human trafficking, as we work alongside government partners at the local, state, federal, and international level to prevent and stop human trafficking.”
Coca Cola
Coca-Cola is another company that has been making strides in the fight against human trafficking. The company has a long history of investing in social responsibility initiatives. In 2018, it started a partnership with the US Department of State to tackle forced labor in its sugar supply chain.
Brent Wilton, the company’s global head of workplace rights, said in an inquiry from Reuters, “We are partnering with the pilot of this project to further increase transparency and efficiency of the verification process related to labor policies within our supply chain.”
Through this partnership, Coca-Cola committed to tracing its sugar supply chain and ensuring that its suppliers comply with its code of conduct, which includes a prohibition on forced labor.
Fashion industry
The fashion industry is another sector where companies are stepping up to combat human trafficking. In recent years, there has been growing awareness of the link between fast fashion and human trafficking, with reports indicating that workers in the supply chain are often subject to forced labor and other forms of exploitation. In response, some companies have been adopting more ethical and sustainable sourcing practices and are partnering with non-profit organizations to support victims of human trafficking.
One such company is the clothing and outdoor gear company Patagonia. The company works to ensure that its suppliers are free from human trafficking and forced labor and has developed a zero-tolerance policy to promote safe and fair working conditions. The company also supports anti-trafficking organizations and initiatives through its environmental and social responsibility program.
These companies are just a few examples of how CSR programs can be used to fight human trafficking and make a meaningful difference in the global fight against modern-day slavery.
Conclusion
The fight against human trafficking requires a collaborative and sustained effort from all sectors of society, and businesses have a significant role to play. Many companies have taken steps to combat human trafficking as part of their corporate social responsibility track, making a difference for both the victims of trafficking and their bottom line.
However, despite these encouraging examples, much work still needs to be done. Companies must collaborate with governments, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to adopt a human rights-based approach while making such a CSR approach against any form of trafficking compulsory by law. By implementing strong and potentially compulsory policies, educating employees and suppliers, and engaging with stakeholders, businesses can seriously contribute to ending this heinous crime and help to create a more just and equitable world.
To increase our chances, it is crucial for companies to understand the impact they can make to stop human trafficking and how to take proactive steps to ensure they are not contributing to this global scourge. By doing so, companies can not only make a positive impact but also improve their reputation, mitigate business risks, and create a better future for all. We can all play a role in the fight against human trafficking and take action today to break the chains of modern-day slavery.
Recommendations:
If you are a business owner, a communications/press expert or are involved in HR or CSR, there are several steps you can take to combat human trafficking:
- Educate your employees: Provide training to your employees to help them identify the signs of human trafficking and understand their role in preventing it.
- Review your policies: Review your company policies to ensure that they address human trafficking and that they provide clear guidance to employees on how to report suspected cases.
- Engage with suppliers: Work with your suppliers to create or integrate further policies and procedures to prevent human trafficking in their operations and supply chains.
- Advocate for change: Use your voice to advocate for stronger laws and policies to combat human trafficking. Join or support industry groups, NGOs, or other organizations working on this issue.
Efforts do not stop there. As individuals, we can also play a role in combating human trafficking. We can support companies that have taken steps to address this issue, and we can use our own purchasing power to demand that companies take responsibility for their supply chains. By working together, we can break the chains of human trafficking and build a better world for all.
Featured photo: samer daboul, Pexels
