Rejecting the “globalisation of indifference” – mobilising for a more inclusive and sustainable global economy’
Media Statement from Steve Howard, Secretary General of The Global Foundation:
Stamping out global forced labour – business commits to deliver what faith leaders demand
The Global Foundation today welcomed the ground-breaking announcement, made in conjunction with its Rome Roundtable meeting, that 400 of the world\’s largest supermarket chains and consumer goods companies will work together to eradicate forced labour in their global supply chains.
The release (copy enclosed) came from the global peak industry body, the *Consumer Goods Forum (CGF). Its CEO and representatives are taking part in the Foundation\’s Rome Roundtable, as are senior Vatican officials involved with the matter, along with the UK Government\’s Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
Global Foundation secretary general and Rome Roundtable convenor Steve Howard said:
“Pope Francis has led a global push of faith leaders to stamp out the scourge of modern slavery and human trafficking. The announcement by the leaders of some of the largest companies in the world that they will mount a major campaign to eradicate forced labour will have an enormous practical and symbolic impact across their global supply chains and with the community in general.”
“This initiative highlights the benefits of engagement between leaders of faith and business. Hopefully, the Rome Roundtable hosted by the Global Foundation can provide a model for future engagement, so that leaders of faiths and business can work together in partnership, on a common ethical basis, to solve major global issues, while promoting job creation and sustainable economic development”.
*The 400 member companies of the Consumer Goods Forum have 10 million direct and 90 indirect employees and represent 2.7 trillion euros of annual sales. One way or another, their members are in contact with hundreds of millions of customers on a daily basis.
For further information, www.globalfoundation.org.au , or please contact Anna Ricigliano (Rome) on +39 339 212 7787, anna.ricigliano@gmail.com or Michele Mulder (Australia) on +61 3 9654 9557, michele.mulder@globalfoundation.org.au