World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is recognized to stress the harms of human trafficking women, men, and children around the world experience. Efforts to address these crimes are strengthened through survivor leadership, research and education, and building resilient communities.

In the recent release of the 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report from the U.S. Department of States Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, 21 countries were upgraded a tier because of their increasing work to address human trafficking in their countries–a victory worth celebrating this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons!

This year, we are highlighting the supply and demand of the market that drives labor trafficking and how businesses and corporations can combat human trafficking by analyzing their supply chains, implementing ethical labor practices, and building sustainable avenues of income and resources for employees.

Sandie [00:00:14] Greetings to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast community of listeners. It is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and our podcast has listeners in 148 countries. This is an important day for us. It’s just me, Sandie Morgan, today to let you know that I’m taking a few weeks off in August, so Dave and I will return to our regular schedule on August 29th.

In the meantime, let’s celebrate the United Nations annual observance by joining forces with our movement’s global partners as we study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. Our latest episode, Shifting the Supply Chain Burden, with Justin Dillon, took a deep dive on some of the legislation that has been passed most recently, especially the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. It’s a big step forward in our movement, but we’ve been looking at this issue for more than a decade on our podcast. So during this short break, we’ve put together a decade of ten episodes around the role of business in ending human trafficking. Just go to the website www.endinghumantrafficking.org and click on the link to browse these recommendations.

You can start most recently with Episode 269, when Matt Friedman suggested how we can empower businesses to create a slave free world. And of course, one of our frequent podcast guests and former Ambassador John Cotton Richmond joined us for episode 267, The Intersection of Business and Human Rights. In Episode 266, we went to Ghana with Chris Field rescuing boys labor trafficked in the fishing industry. And back on episode 247, Ben Skinner gave us the high level look from a corporate change viewpoint in fast fashion on perspectives on transformation in labor trafficking. We brought Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner Cynthia Wittenberg on the podcast to talk to us about the role of Customs and Border Protection in disrupting supply chain forced labor. And back on 209, Ben Greer joined us and he asked the question, Who’s watching the watchdog? Is supply chain transparency working? And then in episode 195, former ambassador to the Vatican John McCarthy talked to us about the Sydney framework, an integration of supply chain transparency and the Sustainable Development Goal 8.7. And he encouraged us to approach this from the power of moral education and ethical purchase processes. We can be part of the solution. And in episode 162, Jenny McGee explained the Starfish business model for serving survivors and reintegrating them in the work force. And way back in 2011, the year we started, Dave and I looked at the California Supply Chain Transparency Act that was passed in 2010. And very early, we started talking about how small businesses are part of ending human trafficking with Cindy and Chris Haughey from Tegu and their work to employ people in ethical business models.

This is a great time to go back and listen if you’ve just joined us and missed these episodes. As we look at World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, another way to observe it is to join forces with us and become a Patreon supporter of this podcast. Your support ensures a consistent and sustainable voice to listeners in 148 countries. We are all in this together, and what seems like a small part makes a big difference. Go to endinghumantrafficking.org, click on the Patreon button. It will take you to a subscription page to give $5 a month or whatever you choose. Thank you. I’ll see you again August 29th.