End Human Trafficking Now

EHTN-HEC GENEVA END HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARD
in partnership with ManpowerGroup and the Cercle HEC
Geneva, Switzerland
21 November 2011

To examine the relationship between human trafficking and the private sector, HEC of Geneva University and the Cercle HEC, in partnership with End Human Trafficking Now and ManpowerGroup, launched a competition for students to submit papers on “Human trafficking and its implications on businesses” on 21 November at Geneva University. Students enrolled in a Swiss university during the academic year 2011–2012 are eligible to enter the competition. Their paper may be written by one or more students and should be submitted in either English or French online to award@ehtn.org. The competition will run until close of business (6 pm CET) 30 June 2012.

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Speeches

Press Releases

ENDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS SMART BUSINESS
Bangkok, Thailand
26 July 2011

As part of the Second Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Week, EHTN and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) co-organized a side-event entitled, “Ending Human Trafficking is Smart Business”, in Bangkok, during which 10 businesses immediately signed on to the Athens Ethical Principles. The event was sponsored by the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) of Thailand. For the first time in the region, discussions directly focused on practicable and concrete steps that the Asian-Pacific business community could take to end human trafficking.

Background information

END HUMAN TRAFFICKING NOW: ENFORCING THE UN PROTOCOL
Luxor, Egypt
10-12 December 2010

The End Human Trafficking Now (EHTN) campaign in partnership with the United Nations and the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT), Orascom Telecom Holding, Manpower, the GAP, Microsoft, the World Bank, and Vital Voices Global Partnership, held an international forum to focus on key issues related to human trafficking, identify best practices and positive experiences, and carve out a set of challenges to pursue with various partners. It represents a milestone in international efforts to combat the crime, ten years after the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. The Forum adopted the Luxor Protocol – a comprehensive compliance programme for businesses to tackle human trafficking. Moreover, it provided a platform for launching the eLearning Tool for businesses to fight human trafficking. During a special ceremony, the winners of the first-ever Business Leader's Award to Fight Human Trafficking were announced.

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Speeches

Press Releases

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT THE CROSSROADS: PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
2-3 March 2009

The Conference “Human Trafficking at the Crossroads” was held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from 2 – 3 March 2009. It brought together more than 300 representatives from Governments, United Nations entities, non-governmental and international organizations, the business community, academia and civil society. Over one and half days, four interactive sessions and a roundtable were held. These sessions explored private-public partnership within the themes of National Strategies against Human Trafficking; Legal Framework and Criminal Justice Response; Engagement of Businesses against Human Trafficking; Prevention Strategy & Support; and the Role of the Media & Art/Culture. The event was extensively covered by national, regional and international media.

Increasingly aware of the risk posed by this global scourge, the Bahrain conference was a step forward towards generating consolidated support and political will from the region and beyond. All sectors of society proved to have an important role to play in tackling human trafficking. Governments are stepping up their efforts to address the root causes of human trafficking and develop counter measures. The private sector is increasingly recognizing the magnitude of the problem and its share of responsibility in tackling this issue in its own sphere of influence. And the pivotal role civil society and non-governmental organizations play in highlighting the problem, in calling for action and in providing support to victims of trafficking, is particularly appreciated.

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Speeches

Press Release

Human Trafficking at the Crossroads, 2 March 2009

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND FORCED LABOR: NEW BUSINESS SOLUTIONS TO A GLOBAL CHALLENGE
Hong Kong, China, 19 April 2007

To multiply the success of the Athens Roundtable in other regions, the Business Leadership Summit was held in the Hong Kong to promote the Athens Ethical Principles in the Asia-Pacific region. The Summit aimed to engage more business leaders in the fight against human trafficking in the region. The co-organizers included CSR Asia, Manpower Inc, Microsoft Inc, End Human Trafficking Now, the United Nations Office for Prevention of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Vital Voices Global Partnership.

The Summit offered a great opportunity for leading business representatives in the region to learn about successful business practices in addressing the issue of human trafficking. It also enabled the exchange of views with world political leaders and major international and local organizations working on this issue in the Asia Pacific region.

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Sample Speeches

Media-related

THE ATHENS ROUNDTABLE: BUSINESS COMMUNITY AGAINST THE TRAFFICKING OF HUMAN BEINGS
Athens, Greece
23 January 2006

The involvement of the private sector is imperative in addressing the serious and growing problem of human trafficking, especially of women and children. It is within this context that a roundtable was held in Athens on 23 January 2006, with representatives of the business community to adopt a set of ethical principles against human trafficking and further, to explore ways and means for their implementation.

The roundtable was organized under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was co-hosted by Motor Oil, one of the leading business companies in Greece, and cosponsored by prominent international organizations in the fight against human trafficking – the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). The roundtable brought together CEOs from the private sector, representatives of NGOs, international organizations, governments and individuals to discuss and share their expertise in contributing in putting an end to human trafficking. They agreed to adopt a set of principles – the Athens Ethical Principles – to declare zero tolerance and their specific commitment to fighting this crime. It was during the Athens Roundtable that the End Human Trafficking Now campaign was launched.

Background information

Press Release

The campaign “End Human Trafficking Now” is launched with the private sector, 27 January 2006