Source: Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
June 12, 2014 -- The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition of 300 investors with assets under management of over $100 billion, Calvert Investments and Christian Brothers Investment Services, commend Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) on the introduction of The Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act of 2014 (H.R. 4842). The new bill calls on corporations to strengthen their commitment to end human trafficking and modern day slavery by requiring them to disclose the policies and management systems they have in place to better identify and eradicate these violations within their global supply chains.
Continue:
http://www.iccr.org/investors-welcome-federal-bill-calling-corporate-disclosures-trafficking-and-slavery-risks
Showing posts with label Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Most apparel companies fall short of disclosure requirements in California Transparency Act
http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/apr/apparel-compliance-041212.html
Source: UDaily
After studying 86 online disclosures of what apparel companies are doing to comply, Marsha Dickson, professor and chair of UD's Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, found that apparel companies can still do more to improve their online information about these efforts.
Source: UDaily
Most apparel companies fall short of disclosure requirements in California Transparency Act
8:08 a.m., April 12, 2012--One quarter of apparel makers are flouting a law requiring them to disclose their efforts to combat human trafficking, a University of Delaware study found.
Since Jan. 1, retailers and manufacturers with more than $100 million in sales worldwide that do business in California have been required to clearly post on their websites the steps they are taking to address human trafficking and slavery.
“We could not find disclosures for one-quarter of the companies,” Dickson said. “Half of the statements were far from obvious -- requiring consumers to delve deeply into the companies’ websites through inconspicuous links, such as about us, investor relations or library.” The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act requires companies to feature a conspicuous and easily understood link to the required information on their homepages.
Another common shortcoming was whether companies require their direct suppliers to certify the materials used in the products are made in accordance to laws on human trafficking and slavery. “Most companies referenced their contractual purchase orders with direct suppliers,” Dickson said, “but those would infrequently extend to materials suppliers as those suppliers would contract only with the company assembling the end product.”
The offending companies should follow what some industry leaders are doing in this area, Dickson said.
Dickson highlighted The Jones Group, whose brands include Jones New York, Anne Klein, Rachel Roy and Nine West, as its disclosures not only addressed all elements of the required disclosure but also contained supporting evidence for each of its statements.
The Rev. David M. Schilling, director of human rights for the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, said the legislation provides companies the opportunity to be proactive and get educated about human trafficking and modern day slavery. “This act speeds up the process of companies going deeper down their supply chains to identify and eliminate any form of forced labor that exists. This is a moral and a business risk issue.”
Understanding some companies are still working toward compliance with the disclosure law, Dickson partnered with Doug Cahn, principal of The Cahn Group, LLC, to develop an online course in response to the requirement in the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act to report on training for supply chain managers.
“It can be complicated to define and identify human trafficking or slavery,” Cahn said. “Economic plight forces workers to accept less-than-ideal employment terms, so this course presents real-world scenarios to help participants identify both the obvious and more subtle indicators of trafficking or forced labor.“
More than 2,250 employees have completed the course to date representing nearly 80 companies in 34 countries and spanning numerous industries, including apparel, footwear, pharmaceutical, biotech, manufacturing, food processing, jewelry, retail, packaging, electronics and telecommunications.
For more information about the online training course offered by UD, contact SRS-Biz@udel.edu.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Investor Statement Urges Business to "Do its Part" to Make Modern Day Slavery History
PR Newswire
27 Corporate Leaders in 6 High Risk Sectors are Urged by Global Investor Coalition to Institute Policies to Eradicate Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery from their Operations and Supply Chains.
NEW YORK, June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recognizing the broad influence of business on the global supply chain, an investor coalition representing over 90 organizations worldwide and led by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) has issued a statement asking 27 companies to take a leadership role in abolishing human trafficking and slavery.
"It is no longer acceptable for companies to avoid this issue: each must do its part to eradicate the threat of human trafficking and slavery within its spheres of influence," said Lauren Compere of Boston Common Asset Management. "As investors, we view the material risks as a compelling business argument in favor of putting formal protections in place. But there is also a powerful moral call to action for the business community at large to use its voice to raise awareness about these egregious violations."
Every year over 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders for the purpose of enforced labor while millions more are enslaved within their own countries. Because traffickers target the economically vulnerable, women and children are especially susceptible to this crime.
Delivery of the statement was timed to coincide with the U.S. State Department's release of its 10th global Trafficking in Persons Report, which ranks countries on anti-trafficking measures. Further, the investor statement references the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act of 2010 and the Conflict Minerals Special Disclosures Provision of the Dodd-Frank Act as clear indicators that anti-trafficking measures will soon be broadly mandated via legislation.
Sr. Kathleen Coll of Catholic Health East said, "Many companies such as Carlson, Gap, HP, LexisNexis and Manpower have taken a pre-emptive approach that shows great leadership and will help focus worldwide attention on this issue. Today we are asking market leaders in high risk sectors to proactively confront trafficking and slavery head on both in word and deed."
The investor statement, signed by more than 90 organizations and investor coalitions in the U.S., Europe and Africa, outlines a series of steps companies can take such as impact assessments, employee training and participation in awareness raising campaigns.
Companies receiving the statement are considered market leaders in high risk categories with the ability to influence their respective sectors including Li & Fung (Apparel), Costco (Retail), Cisco (Technology), ADM (Agriculture), American Airlines (Travel and Tourism) and Nestle (Food and Beverage).
"ICCR members have long challenged corporations to be leaders in the struggle to eradicate modern day slavery," said Rev. David M. Schilling, ICCR's Director of Human Rights and Resources. "We agree with Ambassador Luis CdeBaca (Director of the U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons) who said at a recent modern day slavery conference in Rome, 'It will take private-sector corporations collaborating with countries across regions to trace the supply chain of cheap goods and figure out where trafficking exists and how to fight it.'"
About the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (www.iccr.org):
Currently celebrating its 40th year, ICCR is the pioneer coalition of active shareholders who view the management of their investments as a catalyst for change. Its 300 member organizations with over $100 billion in AUM have an enduring record of corporate engagement that has demonstrated influence on policies promoting justice and sustainability in the world.
SOURCE Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
Friday, May 20, 2011
ICCR Calls on Apparel, Retail Companies to Stop Human Trafficking | News | Apparel Magazine(AM)
Posted Date: 5/19/2011
Today a coalition of institutional investors from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) are sending a statement to 25 target companies asking them to make eradicating human trafficking and modern day slavery in their supply chains a top priority.
ICCR Calls on Apparel, Retail Companies to Stop Human Trafficking | News | Apparel Magazine(AM)
Source: apparel.edgl.com/
Today a coalition of institutional investors from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) are sending a statement to 25 target companies asking them to make eradicating human trafficking and modern day slavery in their supply chains a top priority.
According to the UN Palermo Protocol of 2000, human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring and/or receipt of a person for the exploitative purposes of prostitution, forced labor, slavery or servitude.
It is estimated that every year over 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders for the purpose of enforced labor while millions more are enslaved within their own countries. As traffickers target economically vulnerable populations, women and children are especially susceptible to this crime.
Kathleen Coll, administrator of shareholder advocacy for Catholic Health East says, "As people of faith we are focusing on human trafficking in the supply chain as a matter of social justice. But as investors, we evaluate the companies in our portfolio in terms of their ability to adequately assess and manage risk."
Citing recent legislation mandating increased supply chain disclosure (the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act) and the Conflict Minerals Special Disclosure Provision of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act, the statement requests that companies voluntarily develop human rights programs that will preemptively address what they will inevitably be required to do by law.
Lauren Compere of Boston Common Asset Management says, "We view comprehensive supply chain assessments as essential measures of sound governance to protect the brand and, consequently, our investments. When companies move proactively to put adequate safeguards against human rights risks in place, investors and consumers are reassured that management will be prepared to respond, should the occasion arise."
The statement will be sent to high profile companies across the apparel, griculture, food and beverage, travel and tourism, technology, and retail sectors. A series of recommended steps are outlined in the statement including specialized training programs for employees, vendors and contractors and explicit clauses in contracts with all suppliers and host governments in the supply chain to ensure conduct consistent with human rights standards.
Beyond individual company action, investors also call on companies to partner with other industry leaders and non-governmental organizations in multi-stakeholder initiatives and public-private partnerships that are actively confronting this issue.
Beyond individual company action, investors also call on companies to partner with other industry leaders and non-governmental organizations in multi-stakeholder initiatives and public-private partnerships that are actively confronting this issue.
Rev. David Schilling, ICCR's program director for human rights and resources, says, "It's next to impossible to completely eradicate the exposure to human rights violations from multi-linked supply chains, but the best companies understand that it's better to confront this issue head-on. They actively look for and report on these violations everyday and have strong remediation policies in place to address them...and that's what sets them apart from their competitors."
ICCR Calls on Apparel, Retail Companies to Stop Human Trafficking | News | Apparel Magazine(AM)
Source: apparel.edgl.com/
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
More Businesses, Consumers Work to Stem Human Trafficking
Human trafficking -- whether for forced labor or sexual exploitation -- doesn't appear to have a lot in common with financial investments. But Julie Tanner of Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) is trying to connect the dots. As assistant director of socially responsible investing, she urges corporate boards and senior management at firms like Newmont Mining (gold producers), The Gap, Levi's and Best Buy to refuse to employ slave labor or condone sexual exploitation of children throughout their supply chain.
And they're listening.
With $3.6 billion in assets under management for 1,000 Catholic institutions worldwide, CBIS is considered a small player on an enormous worldwide financial field. Their real buying power to affect change comes through partnerships with 275 faith-based members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) with combined assets of $110 billion.
Slave labor
According to the U.S. State Department, there are over 12 million adults and child slaves worldwide. Trafficking, whether for forced labor, bonded labor or sex, is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world and is tied for second place with arms dealing. Drug dealing remains No. 1.
"Many companies are addressing environmental issues, but the social side is just gearing up," Tanner says. "Companies are not powerless bystanders. Businesses play a crucial role in ensuring slave labor doesn't infect the products we buy." But with many of American's favorite shopping clothing holes targeted for employing slave labor -- including WalMart, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and more -- it's an uphill battle.
Chocolate producers are among the most egregious. Prior to Valentine's Day, consumers unwittingly purchased chocolates produced by Hershey's and M&M Mars identified by Change.org as corporations that employ thousands of child slaves who live under horrific conditions. Most companies who get their cocoa from Ivory Coast farms -- including Nestle's Godiva, Cadbury, Ben & Jerry's -- are equally at fault.
Fortunately, major companies in a variety of industries are stepping up to the plate. Thanks to pressure from the SRI coalition and an internet petition circulated by Change.org agreed to purge slave labor practices in their supply chain. Their efforts were so successful that the company was presented with the Iqbal Masih award for "efforts to eliminate the worst forms of slave labor."
Nucor, the second largest steel manufacturer of U.S. pig iron, is also committed to eliminating slave labor. Since pig iron is used by all major car makers including Toyota, Ford and General Motors, Tanner is hopeful that the company's efforts could spread to other iron users and manufacturers.
What's a consumer to do?
The more consumers let it be known through their investment and retail buying power that they don't condone using slave labor, the more impact they will have on the large companies to change their policies. For a start, before buying those chocolate Easter Bunnies, they can look for Fair Trade chocolates (prominently marked on the labels) sold at Dunkin Donuts, Whole Foods, Starbucks, Safeway (includes Tom Thumb), Target and Trader Joe's.
Sexual trafficking and the travel industry
Though emphasis has been on applying pressure to corporations and industries employing slave labor in their supply chain, SRI coalition members have also targeted the hotel industry -- particularly in countries and cities hosting major sporting events like the 2010 World Cup and the Super Bowl.
Sex trafficking is not specific to major sporting events -- or third world countries. According to ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking), it is generally accepted that more than 1 million children worldwide enter the sex industry every year. Here in the U.S., approximately 100,000 American girls 11 to 17 years old living in all 50 states are involved against their will, and up to 300,000 are at risk for sexual exploitation, according to a University of Pennsylvania study. Many are of these crimes against children happen in hotels.
The travel industry is in a unique position to stem the tide. Worldwide, 900 travel and tourism companies have signed the ECPAT Treaty since 1991, including major internationally-based chains like ACCOR and NH Hotels. But Carlson Hotels, long a leader in condemning sexual exploitation of children in its Radisson Hotels and Country Inn and Suites, is the only major American-based hotel chain to have signed on.
Those who sign the treaty do more than just adopt a corporate policy against sexual exploitation. They train staff to be observant and to whom to report suspected incidents, build alliances with police and anti-trafficking organizations and welfare agencies, provide information to guests regarding national laws, and reinforce that exploitation is not tolerated in their hotels. Some chains hang informational tags on door knobs, provide reading material in each room and issue room keys with hotline phone numbers imprinted on them.
What's an ordinary traveler to do?
• Learn to identify signs:
-Victims rarely have the ability to speak apart from the adult.
-Their answers appear scripted and rehearsed.
-They may show signs of physical abuse or appear submissive or fearful.
-Many appear under the age of 18 and seem to be involved in prostitution.
• Do not become personally involved. Traffickers are extremely dangerous. Instead, report suspected crimes by calling the national Hotline (888-373-7888) or the contact number provided by the hotel in a foreign country.
• Discuss human trafficking with friends and co-workers to raise awareness.
• Before you reserve space, ask hotels and airlines what they are doing to combat human trafficking.
• Support nonprofits like The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Polaris Project, Traffick911, KlaasKids, ECPAT-USA and Shared Hope International.
http://huff.to/e6mwN8
Related articles
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
