“New Approaches to Tackling Forced and Child Labor

Panel discussion: “New Approaches to Tackling Forced and Child Labor: Perspectives of Government, Business, and Civil Society,” Oct 6, 11:15-1:00, Gewirz 12. Panelists Marcia Eugenio, Director of the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT) and is currently Assistant to the Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs; Mark Mittelhauser, Deputy Director of the Office of International Labor Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility in the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL); David Abramowitz, Chief Counsel of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives; Ellie Larson, Executive Director of the Solidarity Center; Marika McCauley Sine, Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at The Coca-Cola Company, responsible for sustainability strategy, policy and communications with a focus on human rights and economic development; Shawn MacDonald, Senior Advisor at Verité, responsible for a variety of research, training, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and advocacy programs focused on issues like forced labor, freedom of association, compliance program design, trafficking, and standards setting. Moderators Eric Biel, Managing Director for Corporate Responsibility at Burson Marsteller, and Meg Roggensack, Policy Director for Free the Slaves. Together, they teach the Georgetown Law seminar “Human Rights at the Intersection of Trade and Corporate Responsibility,” under which this panel discussion is offered. On September 10, the U.S. Department of Labor released its first report identifying products made in violation of international labor standards and their countries of origin, as required under a law passed in 2005. The report highlights the challenges confronted by government officials, businesses, and civil society organizations with respect to forced and child labor issues -- and at the same time provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to focus on the best means for addressing these issues. This timely panel discussion examines the issue from various perspectives and explores government, business, and civil society strategies to address the role of child and forced labor in the production of goods traded globally. Co-Sponsored by Georgetown Law’s Human Rights Institute and the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking. For questions, email [email protected].