At the Ethical Supply Chains panel at the World Justice Forum IV, participants discussed the relationship between productive business and labor rights.
While international supply chains help meet global consumer demand, inexpensive goods often come at the expense of workers and their communities. Too often, inexpensive labor results in human rights violations and environmental degradation. Panelists considered the following questions: What are the best means for creating ethical and sustainable supply chains that are also profitable for business? What strategies and models exist for meeting and implementing existing international labor and environmental laws, norms, and codes of conduct? What are effective ways to monitor, measure, and rectify restrictions to justice? How do we educate consumers about their choices?
Moderator
Margaret Levi, Jere L. Bacharach Professor of International Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Washington; Chair in Politics, U.S. Studies Centre, University of Sydney (USA/Australia)
Panelists
Sheri Flies, Assistant General Merchandising Manager, Costco Wholesale Corp. (USA)
Ou Virak, President, Cambodian Center on Human Rights (Cambodia)
Katie Quan, Associate Chair, UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education, Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (USA)
Auret van Heerden, President & CEO, Fair Labor Association (South Africa)
2024 is a pivotal year for democracy, with over 60 countries electing leaders to govern nearly half the world's population. But despite the possibility of record voter turnout, these elections are unfolding amidst a global rule of law recession that is accelerating democratic decline.
Eight years ago, a World Justice Project poll found that an overwhelming majority of Americans–91%–believed they could vote freely without being harassed or pressured. After the 2020 election, only 58% of people still agreed. Will 2024 be different?