Labor Trafficking and Trade
Zimbabwe Still Exporting Blood Diamonds
Published November 02, 2009 @ 03:48PM PT
The folks over at the Kimberly Process certification scheme, the main body responsible for certifying diamonds as "conflict-free", have threatened to suspend Zimbabwe's participation in the program for six months. It appears Zimbabwe is still seeing a great deal of human rights abuses, exploitation, and slavery in the diamond industry.
The Kimberley Process (KP) is a coalition of governments, diamond industry representatives, and civil society stakeholders, which was created to stem the flow of conflict diamonds from countries in Africa to global markets. Rough diamonds have been used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments, and the diamond industry has become notorious for exploitation and slavery, especially of children. The trade conflict diamonds has fuelled devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone and resulted in the abuse of thousands of workers and children. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on participating members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’.
Zimbabwe's eastern diamond fields are the areas currently being questioned by the KP. Human Rights Watch has accused the military of killing a number of diamond diggers in the area and using the gems recovered from the dead diggers to line their own pockets. Zimbabwe is also accused of not having stringent enough regulations in place to prevent abuse in the diamond industry. A KP inspector recently recommended that Zimbabwe be barred from importing or exporting rough diamonds within the Process for at least six months "until such time as a KP team determines that minimum standards have been met." Such a ban would be a huge blow to the diamond industry in that country, but might also allow KP members to put the additional regulations in place to help prevent exploitation in the industry.
It's comforting to know the folks at KP are actively monitoring all of their members, and that they aren't hesitating to call one out for failing to live up to the rigorous standards KP insists on. But it's still important to know where the diamonds you buy have come from and how or if they are certified. You can find a wide selection of Fair Trade diamond and gold jewelry at Brilliant Earth's website.
Photo credit: swamibu
Where to Buy Fair Trade Winter Accessories
Published November 01, 2009 @ 08:00AM PT
Winter is sneaking up on us like a spy in silk stockings, and bringing with it those icy winds that require hats, gloves, and scarves. But before you stock up on winter accessories, take a few moments to consider the people who are making you warm. Buying Fair Trade products to keep you cozy is a great way to support companies who are taking measures to prevent slavery and exploitation of workers. Plus, the Internet is full of great options. Here are a few:
World of Good Ebay Store: From sweatshop-free wool socks to simple hemp gloves to colorful handmade mittens, this is your Fair Trade Winter hookup. As a bonus, you can also buy through individual sellers who make a living selling Fair Trade and environmentally conscious products. Also, Original Good, which is part of World of Good, has a huge selection of scarves, though they're the kind that are probably better in warmer climates.
Pristine Planet: They have a selection of Fair Trade and eco-friendly products. with a huge selection of scarves. Some are the keep-you-toasty kind and some are good for Winter in Dallas or Atlanta.
Ethica Accessories: Based in Australia, this company was founded by a group of Sisters of St. Joseph who wanted to make a difference. They sell handmade, Fair Trade products from Peru, including Alpaca hats and other Winter snugglies. They also have products for kids.
Eka: This UK fashion line is all Fair Trade and features cute vintage-style Winter hats inspires by the Great Gatsby and Rita Hayworth, among other. These would make a great holiday gift for anyone who likes both fashion and justice. I would totally live in these hats year round if they didn't make me sweat in July.
Vaute Couture: If you're the creative type, you can design (or ask others to design) your own made-to-order Winter coat. All the materials they use are vegan, green, and Fair Trade materials, and the coats are assembled in Chicago by workers paid a living wage. It's high fashion with a high purpose.
There are a number of other sources of Fair Trade Winter accessories, so if you know of any, please leave them in the comments. If we take the time to really think about out purchases, we can keep warm this winter without leaving workers in developing countries out in the cold.
Photo credit: mahalie
What Hillary Clinton Should Say In Pakistan This Week
Published October 29, 2009 @ 07:00AM PT
Hillary Clinton is on day two of her official three day visit to Pakistan, the first of her career as Secretary of State. I'm pretty sure that while she's there, she'll remember to talk about terrorism and the Taliban. I hope she might even slip in a comment or two about women's rights. But will Clinton mention the rampant debt bondage and slavery that makes modern Pakistan look more like 11th century Europe than a modern nation? And next to terrorism, is that even important?
To borrow some terrorism language, the situation of debt bondage in Pakistan is quickly deteriorating from a Code Orange to a Code This-Whole-Freakin'-Country-Is-Getting-Dragged-Back-Into-the-Dark-Ages. For example, according to TIME Magazine, at least three landlords have held as many as 170 bonded farmworkers at gunpoint on their estates since late September. Most traffickers have tools other than guns to keep workers enslaved, but the fact that these traffickers can hold their victims at gunpoint for months with no government interference speaks to the impotence of the Pakistani government in addressing debt bondage. In Pakistan today, 10% of men own 90% of the land. The vast majority of farmers are somehow indentured, and many of them are caught in false debts and held under the threat of violence -- they are slaves. Debt bondage is not the exception in Pakistan. It would be the rule, if there was any system of enforcement.
The U.S. government hasn't addressed this issue with Pakistan, in part because the Taliban, Al Queda, and all the other violent and extremist goings-on look like a much bigger and more important issue than some farmers not getting their due. Well I've got news for Secretary Clinton and all the foreign policy wons who think they can ignore slavery -- ending slavery in Pakistan will go a long way towards reducing terrorism and creating a peaceful, stable Pakistan.
Here's how it works:
Publix Secretly Films Labor Protesters to Avoid Paying Farmworkers
Published October 26, 2009 @ 04:54PM PT
Over 100 farmworkers, many of whom pick tomatoes for a living, protested outside a Publix grocery store this weekend to demand an end to exploitative labor practices and a fair price for tomatoes. This protest was on the heels of several others, which a Publix associate had been secretly filming and lying about. Produce and espionage -- now there's two things you rarely hear about together.
Publix has refused to enter into an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to ensure that the some of the price increase of tomatoes makes it to the workers in the fields. So CIW and their supporters began to protest. And how did Publix respond? Like any Southern grocery chain would -- they send a spy. Thomas McGuigan, who works for Publix, began showing up at a number of the protests to film them. He told the protesters that he was an independent filmmaker and "old hippie" interested in protest culture. He followed them to several protests, lying to them about the nature and purpose of the filming. But as it turns out, he had agreed to turn all his footage over to Publix.
WTF, Publix? Did you really send a spy to infiltrate a group of peaceful protesters with a video camera to avoid agreeing not to exploit farmworkers? What are you now, the Bush administration? Reports from the protesters indicate that McGuigan was spending a disconcerting amount of time filming children at the protest. If Publix wants this footage to see how CIW and their allies are plotting to achieve justice for farmworkers, why are they focusing on the kids? Maybe Publix thinks they are the secret masterminds. Or maybe McGuigan's not the best filmmaker.
Michael Hoffman, Executive Director of the Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University in Massachusetts, has stated that Publix's filming was done under false pretenses and was unethical. He recommends they destroy the tape immediately. I second that motion. People have a right to protest you, Publix, especially when you refuse to take important steps towards protecting the people who produce the food you sell from exploitation. So buck up, work with CIW, and leave the espionage to the professionals. They are much, much better at it.
Photo credit: hyku
The Myth of Initial Consent
Published October 25, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT
No one can consent to slavery. Period. But there is a myth that if a trafficked person initially agreed to be in the country or industry that they were eventually enslaved in, that initial consent somehow mitigates the fact that they are being forced to work against their will. Despite what else they may have consented to, no one consents to slavery.
This myth most commonly manifests itself with victims trafficked into prostitution. Let's say Katya is Ukranian and is looking for a way to support her family. She goes to an international job broker who tells her she can make serious money in stripping and prostitution in Jamaica at the clubs and resorts. They discuss the terms, and she signs a contract that states she will choose her own hours, her own clients, and be able to set the prices for her sex acts within a certain range. She'll also give 10% of what she earns to the company. Katya is fine with working in the commercial sex industry and engaging in prostitution under these terms, and plans to save the money she makes in Jamaica for a year and then return to Ukraine. When Katya arrives in Jamaica, she is met by Sam who takes her to a brothel. There, Sam takes her passport, punches her in the face, and rapes her. He tells her she must give half of what she earns from stripping and prostitution to him, but can keep the other half. If Katya tries to refuse a buyer or take a night off, Sam beats her. He won't return her passport, so she is unable to leave the country. Katya never thought prostitution would be like this. Is Katya a trafficking victim?
Yes. The fact that she agreed to work in prostitution voluntarily does not mean she is not a slave now. Katya consented to a work situation that included commercial sex (even illegally), but one where she was free to refuse or leave. The reality for Katya was that she was not free to leave and was held in prostitution by violence. She was not allowed to keep the money she earned or make choices about who she provided sexual services to.
Here's another example. Miguel is approached by Andres in his town in Peru and offered a job picking asparagus about 100 miles away. The Andres tells Miguel he will have to pay off a $500 debt for the cost of travel to the farm and room and board while he works there, but that the debt should be paid off within a few weeks, and Miguel can keep the rest of his wages for the season. Andres knows Miguel's cousin, so he seems trustworthy, and Miguel takes the job. When they get to the farm, the men are told that the trip was more expensive than they thought and they each now must work off $800. A few weeks later, Miguel asks when he will start to receive his wages and is told that the price of food has increased, so they now owe a debt of $1000 for room and board. Eventually, Miguel and some other men demand their wages and threaten to leave or go to the police. Andres refuses and threatens to shoot them if they go to the police. He tells them he will kill their children if they don't keep working. Is Miguel a trafficking victim?
Yes. Miguel agreed to take on a certain amount of debt, but that debt increased unfairly and with no explanation. When he tried to take his wages or leave the situation, he and his family were threatened with violence. Even if a person agrees to pay off a debt, they have not consented to debt bondage. Even though Miguel initially consented to work for Andres, Andres used force, coercion, or deception to keep him there, thus trafficking him.
Photo credit: Robyn Gallegher
Taken in the Night: Martin's True Story of Slavery
Published October 21, 2009 @ 01:00PM PT
This story is originally from Reuters. While Uganda has become the most famous backdrop for stories of children trafficked to become child soldiers, it is not the only country where they are currently being exploited. Child soldiers have been used in conflicts all over Asia and Africa, including being used by the Taliban as suicide bombers. But Martin's story represents the experience of many child soldiers in Uganda.
I was 10 years old when the Lord's Resistance Army came to my door in the middle of the night. They ordered me to leave my home and come with them. In my district, we had heard about the atrocities they were committing, and so we were all terrified. The men looted my house, taking chickens, goats, and clothes. Then they took me. My cousins and I, along with other boys, were tied together by our hands. For one whole day we walked like that, trying to dodge the Ugandan army. We walked for a week, until we arrive in southern Sudan to begin our training.
During the day we were taught how to march and how to handle a gun. The mane in charge told us we needed to be ready for battle because President Yoweri Museveni had ordered the Karamoja to ome and raid all the cattle in the countryside and abuse and kill our families. We were told to overthrow the government, which would make Joseph Kony president and life better for us. The commanders told us that overthrowing the government was our main goal, a goal we should be willing to die for. The older boys were the security for the training camp -- forced to kill children if they tried to escape. They did it with a wooden club, and all the children were forced to watch as the offending child was beaten to death. It was meant to be a warning to us all. You would be beaten if you broke even the simplest rules, like not eating pork or shea nut butter. But you would be killed to trying to escape.
I saw my first battle at age 12. I was petrified and freezing, since we were attacking at dawn. Yet, somehow, I survived. For years I kept hopeful that someday I would be able to return home and go back to school. Maybe one day I would be chosen to be part of an operation in Uganda, and from there I could escape home. But that never happened. Instead, we moved from south Sudan to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The commanders claimed the war would be over by 2006, and we could all return home. When it didn't I decided with three others to escape. We managed to sneak away, walking three days until we reached a place near Aba in Congo. There, we found the Congolese army, surrendered ourselves, and explained our situation. News of my escape was broadcast over the radio, and my little brother came to meet me. We were overjoyed to see each other again.
Martin is now free and hopes to go back to school to continue his education.
Photo credit: babasteve
South Korea's Disposable People
Published October 20, 2009 @ 01:00PM PT
Abolitionist Kevin Bales was the first to coin the term "disposable people" as a reference to modern-day slavery. It's remained a popular term because it has both great descriptive power and great accuracy. Victims of human trafficking are treated temporary, replaceable items -- not individual human beings. Amnesty International has recently shined a light on one group of people who are particularly treated as such -- migrant laborers in South Korea.
South Korea was actually one of the first Asian countries to grant equal rights to migrant workers, including the same status as Korean workers. In 2004, they passed legislation guaranteeing equal labor rights, pay, and benefits for all migrant workers. However, five years later, many migrant workers continue to face the hardships and abuse they experienced before legal reform. Workers often work with heavy machinery and dangerous chemicals without sufficient training or protective equipment, putting them at greater risk of accidents and fatalities. They receive less pay than South Korean workers in the same jobs. Female migrant workers face sexual harassment, rape, and trafficking into prostitution. Many workers have had wages withheld without cause and been cheated out of wages.
South Korea is an example of the importance of implementation of law. On the books, migrant workers have great legal protections and full rights. However, in reality, no mechanism for implementing the law exists. Workplaces are not monitored for safety violations, the claims of unfair dismissals and wage theft are not addressed. Unfortunately, this sort of situation is not unique to South Korea. Since the U.S. began issuing it's annual Trafficking in Persons report and rating countries on their efforts to combat human trafficking, more countries have passed better anti-trafficking legislation. Strong laws are important, but ultimately meaningless if the country lacks any mechanism to enforce that law. Too often, strong anti-trafficking laws have failed to make a difference in the lives of at-risk and trafficked people because of a lack of enforcement. We should learn from South Korea's example that the "how" of law is often just as imporant as the "what."
Until a better enforcement mechanism is in place, Amnesty International is asking South Korea to do the following:
- to ensure that employers respect, protect and promote the rights of migrant workers through rigorous labour inspections so that the workplace is safe, training is provided and migrant workers are paid fairly and on time;
- to protect and promote the rights of all female migrant workers and stamp out sexual harassment and sexual exploitation;
- to allow irregular migrant workers to remain in South Korea while accessing justice and seeking compensation for abuses by employees; and
- to ensure that during immigration raids, immigration authorities adhere to South Korean law requiring them to identify themselves, present a warrant, caution and inform migrant workers of their rights, and provide those under their custody prompt medical treatment when needed or requested.
Photo credit: 2017
