Understanding Human Trafficking In The Fashion Industry

In this bitesize 14 minute lesson, understand what human trafficking is from Tamara Barnett, Director of Operations at Human Trafficking Foundation. This is an organisation that grew out of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery to support victims and disrupt trafficking networks in order to inform policy recommendations to Parliamentarians and Government.

Tamara brings her insight and expertise to raise our awareness on what human trafficking can look like in the textile and apparel sector, and what a creative business can do to ensure that they work with those in their supply chain to sensitively support victims into new directions.

One in every 130 females globally is living in modern slavery and in fact, women and girls account for nearly three quarters (71%) of all victims of modern slavery. So although modern slavery can affect anyone everywhere, women are disproportionately affected, and the issue is exacerbated by gender inequality and discrimination [Walk Free Foundation]. As a creative business with probably a complex supply chain, you have the responsibility to hold yourself accountable for the human lives that will make your products. You will also likely have a wide-ranging audience where information-sharing is a force for good in itself. Dive in to this lesson to understand how to monitor and support those in your supply chain.

Thumbnail image: Survivors of slavery in Varanasi, India celebrating the freedom gained for themselves and their children. Photo Credit: Grace Forrest via Walk Free Foundation.