In this episode of Hidden Traffic, Gwen Hassan updates listeners on news and resources related to human trafficking. Here are some of the topics she covers:
- Congratulations to Source Map for being named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list for their work in clean supply chain and mapping.
- Mekong Club’s recent publication of ‘Eight Tips for Brands to Prepare for Germany’s New Due Diligence Act’. Gwen encourages companies doing business in Germany to read the tips, which provide practical steps for compliance.
- Recent changes to the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS), including their new toolkit, which was developed in partnership with the National Survivor Network. The toolkit “provides practical tools for organizations to become more inclusive of human trafficking and modern slavery survivors in their approaches,” Gwen remarks.
- A recent New York Times article entitled ‘Alone and Exploited’ highlights the prevalence of child labor in the US. The article discusses cases of child workers as young as 12 years old working in subcontractors of major companies such as Walmart and Target.
- Gwen discusses a new law in Arkansas that makes it easier for employers to employ children. She expresses concern about the potential for this law to exacerbate the problem of child labor and human trafficking in the US. She urges listeners to be aware of the issue and to support efforts to combat it.
- “Bottom line,” Gwen points out, “is the prevalence of modern slavery and human trafficking within the United States continues to be even more serious and large than we believed originally…”
Resources:
Fast Company – Most Innovative Companies
Mekong Club – Eight Tips for Brands to Prepare for Germany’s New Due Diligence Act
Global Fund to End Modern Slavery
Meaningful Engagement of People With Lived Experience toolkit
