Public-private partnerships to combat trafficking in India

27 May 2008 - Human trafficking can occur everywhere, including in the workplace and within supply chain systems. Under the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, the UN Office on Drugs Crime's (UNODC) Regional Office for South Asia is building alliances with the Indian government and the private sector to fight trafficking.

Over recent decades, increased global competition has contributed to a shift of industry production. Falling barriers to trade and investment, and changing technology have enabled firms to shift production into distinct stages and to different locations. For example, many companies have relocated textile and garment production to lower income countries or sub-contracted to small and cheaper suppliers. This rise of global production systems brings new economic opportunities. On the downside, it also leaves many workers vulnerable to exploitation as labour practices are harder to regulate and monitor.

UNODC, Gap Inc and the Ministry of Women and Child Development recently held a consultation in New Delhi on trafficking in the garment supply chain with participation from different national and international retailers and sourcing agents. The meeting's aim was to sensitize the garment and textile industry on trafficking and forced labour - especially that of children - and to mobilize initiatives to address the issue.

"We hope that sharing some of the steps we are taking inside the company, as well as in the industry, will enable greater transparency on how this sector operates", said Lakshmi Bhatia, Director, Global Partnerships, Social Responsibility, Gap Inc. "We hope it will encourage others from the industry to collaborate in fighting trafficking in the supply chain."

Gary Lewis, UNODC Regional Representative, welcomed Gap Inc's initiative. "Businesses need to work through their corporate social responsibility programmes to put systems in place that address the risks of human trafficking from both an economic and social angle." He suggested the development of codes of conduct to ensure clean production processes and related implementation systems such as social auditing.

As a result of the consultation, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has set up a think tank to promote public private partnership to combat trafficking. With representatives from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Commerce, Labour and Industry, GAP Inc as well as garment and other sector companies, the think tank will focus on raising awareness and generating initiatives to ensure sound labour practices across industries.  

To reduce vulnerability to trafficking, the Ministry of Women and Child Development and UNODC are also initiating pilot projects to provide vocational skills training to women and youth in high risk areas. The identification of districts where these projects will be implemented is already underway. The initiative will involve local civil society and self help groups already working in government sponsored women's empowerment programmes. Gap Inc has expressed its interest in participating.

Earlier in February 2008, Renuka Chowdhury, Indian Minister of Women and Child Development, and Gap Inc senior representatives met at the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking. In the closing speech to the Forum, Mrs. Chowdhury stressed the need to aggressively address all forms of exploitation, including forced labour.