Since we were established in 2005, Humanity United has worked to build peace, promote justice, and advance human freedom in the areas of the world where these ideals are challenged most. We work to reduce the prevalence of modern-day slavery by strengthening the global anti-slavery advocacy movement, by encouraging sustained governmental leadership on the issue at home and abroad, and by engaging private business to become part of the solution to end slavery.
Over the past five years, Humanity United has supported a portfolio of organizations and activities focused on slavery in supply chains. As part of this work, we are very proud to partner with The Guardian and the Institute for Human Rights and Business in the development and support of the Global Supply Chains Summit.
Modern-day slavery exists in much of the world today to support the demands of a consumer-driven global economy. Many of the goods we use are produced far from where they are bought, making their way to the consumer through complex and opaque supply chains. Forced labor and human trafficking exists across too many of these supply chains, with well-documented abuses occurring across industries and throughout the production process.
As businesses, consumers and governments learn more about the relationship between our products and modern-day slavery, many corporations are taking positive steps to identify and address slavery in their supply chains. Often this work begins with asking a simple but essential question: How can we learn more about the risk of forced labor and human trafficking in our own supply chain?
This summit offers a real opportunity to build on that initiative and discuss the practices, policies and public reporting necessary to ensure against these major human rights violations.
We will engage with business leaders, investors and other stakeholders, who are together contributing to the eradication of slavery from their supply chains. And because this problem cannot be effectively addressed unless it is seen as an integral part of a company's operations, we will also discuss ways that we can collectively foster better understanding of the compelling responsibility that all corporations have to ensure against forced labor and human trafficking in their work.
We look forward to welcoming you in London.
