Slavery in supply chains
Globally, the ILO estimates that there are approximately 27.6 million people in a situation of forced labour in 2021. Out of this, 17.3 million are exploited in the private sector. They work in mines, factories, vessels, construction sites, hotels and fields to produce the goods and provide the services we use and buy every day. Almost four million people are also in state-imposed forced labour, exploited by the very governments meant to protect them. Much of this state-imposed forced labour is used to produce products sold all around the world, such as cotton, food products and minerals.
To deliver the systemic change required to eradicate forced labour from supply chains, we need to end the culture of impunity that allows companies to treat exploitation as a by-product of doing business.
Our programs
Strategic litigation
Strategic litigation has a unique power to compel business action to tackle modern slavery in global supply chains.
Ecosystem building
Ecosystem building is designed to amplify the capacities of Global South-based NGOs, lawyers, and activists.
Laws to tackle forced labour in supply chains
When effectively enforced, mandatory human rights and environment due diligence and robust trade mechanisms can be used to combat forced labour in global supply chains.
Strategic litigation on corporate behavior
Strategic litigation is recognised as a powerful tool to hold companies and governments accountable for their human rights and environmental violations. The Freedom Fund commissioned research to assess the multifaceted effects of filing human rights cases against companies. The report focuses on the impact on corporate conduct as well as the broader international ecosystem. The report sheds light on the complexity of establishing clear, causal links between legal proceedings and companies’ actions, and reveals important considerations for initiators of human rights litigation, corporations, governments, and funders. This includes highlighting that litigation should be used in conjunction with other complementary strategies.
Program objectives
Our goal is to incentivise broader systems change by increasing the pressure on businesses to address and remedy forced labour in their supply chains. This work is focused on the following three interrelated themes.
Our team
Chloe Cranston
Senior Program Manager, Responsible Supply Chains
Kehinde Ojo
Program Officer
Charlotte Tate
Program Manager for Responsible Supply Chains
