Companies Face Human Trafficking Risks
Over 17,000 human trafficking victims are estimated to enter the U.S. each year. January 11 marked the ninth annual National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and January is the fifth annual National Slavery And Human Trafficking Prevention month.
More than 20 million people globally are affected by trafficking each year, with the studies from the International Labour Organization showing that three out of every 1,000 people are “trapped in jobs into which they were coerced or deceived.”
In recognition of the day, the non-profit business association TRACE International issued a statement on human trafficking and business:
Mass murders, child soldiers, a crackdown on the press and protests – this is what comes to mind as human rights violations. But what encompasses human rights is extraordinarily broad and includes the right not to be held in slavery or servitude.
There are seven conventions covering human rights, including the two main conventions on human rights: the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Companies thus face risks of violating human rights in every country and in every industry.
Lawsuits and government investigations into alleged human rights violations can be costly for companies. For example, Odebrecht, one of the largest engineering firms in Brazil, was convicted by Brazilian authorities of engaging in human trafficking and slave labor conditions in Angola during the construction of a biofuel plant and ordered to pay 50 million reais ($13 million) in damages.
Companies can reduce their risk by familiarizing themselves with the human rights conventions. However, just as important is understanding the United Nations Framework of “Protect, Respect and Remedy” and the Guiding Principles for implementing the Framework.
The Framework clarifies the responsibilities of governments and businesses in upholding human rights: Governments have a duty to protect their citizens from human rights abuses committed by third parties, businesses have a responsibility to avoid violating human rights and to address violations that occur, and victims of business-related human rights violations should have access to an effective remedy.
The Guiding Principles are meant to help implement the Framework, providing a roadmap for companies on respecting human rights, including understanding what are human rights, putting in place human rights policies and creating a due diligence process focused on prevention and processes to remediate any possible violations.
Being familiar with human rights and the U.N. Framework and Guiding Principles is a crucial first step in reducing the risk of human rights violations. Armed with this knowledge, companies can more easily adapt to the challenges they face no matter where they operate.
Recent MarEx coverage of human trafficking issues
Inadvertent Support for Slavery and Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking Conference Features Maritime Leader
India Takes Tough Line on Trafficking Victims
Thai Naval Commander Charged over Human Trafficking
Myanmar Jails Captain and Crew for Human Trafficking
20 Somalis Convicted for Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking: The Giant Ocean Case
Hope for New Zealand People Trafficking Crackdown