Human Trafficking and the Private Sector
GENERAL RESOURCES
Global Business Coalition Against Trafficking (gBCAT)
gBCAT’s mission is to “mobilize the power, resources, and thought leadership of the business community to end human trafficking, including all forms of forced labor and sex trafficking.” GBCAT serves as a resource for orientation and operational guidance for companies interested in learning more about human trafficking and develops recommendations for best business practices to end human trafficking. gBCAT also fosters connections between businesses and governments, NGOs, international organizations and civil society in the global fight against human trafficking. Resources include human trafficking training for employees, a Supply Chain Toolkit, and a Sex Trafficking Toolkit. http://gbcat.org/#top
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
UNODC offers practical help to States, not only helping to draft laws and create comprehensive national anti-trafficking strategies but also assisting with resources to implement them. States receive specialized assistance including the development of local capacity and expertise, as well as practical tools to encourage cross-border cooperation in investigations and prosecutions. http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/index.html?ref=menuside
Center for Business and Human Rights, Stern School of Business, New York University
The Center’s mission is to challenge and empower businesses to make practical progress on human rights in their own operations, starting from the premise that business can and does work for the good of society. The Center supports the goal of business to create value while emphasizing high standards for human rights performance. In addition to research and teaching activities, each year, the Center takes on a major project around a set of human rights challenges in a business sector that is of foremost concern for companies, consumers, regulators, and investors. They use the convening platform of the NYU Stern School of Business to
bring together groups of companies from different sectors and different parts of the world, along with outside stakeholders and experts. They seek to avoid the polarization that often characterizes debates on these issues, and instead explore sustainable solutions that meet the needs of business and society. http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/centers-of-research/business-human-rights
Blue Campaign
The Blue Campaign, a project of the Department of Homeland Security, works in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations to protect the basic rights of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice. The Blue Campaign provides information on training and outreach, how traffickers operate, and victim assistance. The Campaign has an array of resources available to help its partner network increase the reach of the anti-human trafficking message, facilitate the sharing of best practices, and amplify human trafficking efforts via a strength-in-numbers approach. DHS emphasizes a victim-centered approach to human trafficking, which places equal value on the identification and stabilization of victims and providing immigration relief, as well as the investigation and prosecution of traffickers. http://www.dhs.gov/end-human-trafficking
The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST)
ATEST is a US-based coalition that advocates for solutions to prevent and end all forms of human trafficking and modern slavery around the world. ATEST is committed to ensuring that corporations and government supply chains are free from human trafficking and recruit workers ethically. ATEST also works to ensure that federal, state and local governments do not treat victims as criminals and instead provide survivors with comprehensive services and access to justice. Coalition member organizations include Polaris, ECPAT, Verite, and World Vision. http://www.endslaveryandtrafficking.org/
SUPPLY CHAIN RESOURCES
Fair Labor Association (FLA)
The FLA brings together universities, civil society organizations (CSOs) and companies to find sustainable solutions to systematic labor issues. FLA improves workers lives by holding affiliated companies accountable for implementing FLA’s Code of Conduct across their supply chains, conducting external assessments so that consumers can be assured of the products they by, and creating a space for CSOs to engage with companies and other stakeholders to find viable solutions to labor concerns. http://www.fairlabor.org/
Child Labour Platform (CLP)
A project of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the CLP aims to identify obstacles to the implementation of the ILO Convention in supply chains and surrounding communities, identify practical ways of overcoming these obstacles, and catalyze collective action. The CLP works with businesses and organizations to raise labor standards and reduce child labor within global supply chains. http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Action/CSR/clp/lang–en/index.htm
FINANCIAL SERVICES RESOURCES
Thomson Reuters Foundation
In collaboration with the Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr., the Thomson Reuters Foundation holds an annual conference, Trust Women, dedicated to grounding women’s rights in the rule of international law. In 2013, these partners launched a coalition of financial services companies to develop ways to use “financial forensics” to fight human trafficking, with participants including American Express, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and others, as well as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Human Trafficking Pro Bono Legal Center. http://www.trustwomenconf.com/
Project STAMP: Smuggler and Trafficker Assets, Monies and Proceeds
Launched by the Department of Homeland Security, Project STAMP attacks organizations involved in human trafficking from an aggressive anti-money laundering stance. Project STAMP aims to use research to follow the money-trail, mapping out how
these organizations use the financial sector both domestically and abroad to collect payment for illegal services rendered and share these methods with the financial community to shut down identified vulnerabilities. http://www.dhs.gov/project-stamp-smuggler-and-trafficker-assets-monies-and-proceeds
Financial Action Task Force
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF is a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas. The FATF has developed a series of recommendations that are recognised as the international standard for combating money laundering. The U.S. is a member of the FATF. http://www.fatf-gafi.org/
RESOURCES FOR TRANSPORTATION, SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS SECTORS
Blue Lightning
The Blue Lightning Initiative, an element of the DHS Blue Campaign, trains airline personnel to identify potential traffickers and their victims and to report their suspicions to federal law enforcement. Blue Lightning illustrates common indicators of trafficking that airline employees may encounter and how to report suspected trafficking to law enforcement officers immediately. Participation is open to any U.S. airline. http://www.dot.gov/administrations/office-policy/blue-lightning-initiative
Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT)
TAT seeks to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of the trucking and travel plaza industry to combat domestic sex trafficking. In addition to educating truck drivers about human trafficking, TAT partners with law enforcement to facilitate the investigation of human trafficking and marshals the resources of the trucking industry to combat this crime. http://www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org/
HOSPITALITY SECTOR RESOURCES
Sabre: Passport to Freedom
Passport to Freedom is Sabre’s corporate responsibility program to help fight human trafficking and provide support to victims and survivors. The goal of the program is to increase awareness and educate the travel industry on human trafficking issues, advocate for legislation change, and provide opportunities for leaders to collaborate. Sabre is a global technology company serving the travel and tourism industry. http://www.sabre.com/index.php/about/corporate-responsibility/passport-to-freedom
ECPAT International
ECPAT International is a global network of organizations and corporate partners working together to eliminate the trafficking of children for sexual purposes, as well as ending child pornography and child sex tourism. ECPAT-USA works directly with companies in the travel industry to implement programs and educate staff so that they can help identify victims and perpetrators and react appropriately. http://www.ecpatusa.org/promote-corporate-social-responsibility
The International Tourism Partnership (ITP)
ITP brings together the world’s leading international hotel companies to provide a voice for environmental and social responsibility in the industry. ITP has developed a corporate strategy for anti-trafficking policy including supplier codes of conduct and clear procedures for reporting suspected incidences and has developed awareness training for employees. ITP is committed to developing and sharing best practice among its partner hotels. http://www.tourismpartnership.org/
American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
AHLEI provides working hospitality professionals with education and training. As part of AHLEI’s human trafficking awareness campaign, the Institute developed resources (including a training video) to educate all staff on the risks and signs of human trafficking operations. https://www.ahlei.org/Articles/Human-Trafficking-Awareness-Training-for-Hotels-and-Lodging-Facilities/
Institute of Hotel Security Management (IHSM)
IHSM aims to promote mutual support and cooperation between members for the benefit of the hotel and catering industry. The Institute maintains relationships with law enforcement agencies and others in the interest of crime prevention and counter terrorism. IHSM recognizes the strategic role of the hotel industry in fighting human trafficking and provides resources for training and best practice to its partners. http://hotelsecuritymanagement.org/
