The Thomson Reuters Foundation has today announced the 19 candidates – including corporates, non-profits and individuals – shortlisted for its annual Stop Slavery Award in recognition of their dedication to ending the scourge of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Launched in 2015, the Award commends the businesses that have set a gold standard in efforts to eradicate forced labour from their supply chains. The initiative has since expanded to include new categories, recognising journalists, innovators, cross-sector collaborators and non-profits in the fight against modern slavery – a multi-billion-dollar industry affecting an estimated 40.3 million people around the world.
The shortlisted candidates were chosen from more than 150 entries received this year from more than 30 countries.
The candidates for the prestigious Enterprise Award were selected by a panel of some of the world’s most influential anti-slavery and anti-trafficking leaders: Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth, former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Kevin Hyland, International Criminal Lawyer Patricia Viseur Sellers, former New York County District Attorney and a Partner at Baker McKenzie Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., Advisor to the B Team and Visiting Executive at Oxford’s Saïd Business School Rajiv Joshi, Forum for the Future Executive Sally Uren, and Thomson Reuters Foundation COO Nick Glicher.
All Enterprise Award applicants completed an extensive questionnaire developed in partnership with experts in the field, including Kevin Coon, Partner of global law firm Baker McKenzie, which firm is also Headline Sponsor for this year’s in-person award ceremony. It highlights human rights best practices in corporate commitment and reporting, performance management, business partner engagement, risk assessment and investigation and remediation
An independent third party, Uplift Worldwide, scored the submissions to this Award using specific criteria based on existing standards and best practices.
The jury for the additional four categories (Hero, Innovation, Collaboration and Media) included leading figures in their respective fields: Thomson Reuters Foundation’s CEO Antonio Zappulla, Professor of Modern Slavery Law at King’s College London and Human Rights Barrister Parosha Chandran, former US Ambassador to Monitor Trafficking in Persons and Robina Fellow at Yale University Luis CdeBaca, Senior Partner at Fleishman Hillard Paul Haugen, International Humanitarian Photographer Lisa Kristine, The Guardian’s Commissioning Editor of its Modern-Day Slavery series, Annie Kelly, and Founding Member and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity Kalpona Akter.
The Award categories and the shortlisted candidates, in alphabetical order, are:
1. Stop Slavery Enterprise Award (Goods & Service Companies)
This Award recognises companies that have taken concrete steps to root out forced labour from their supply chains. The shortlist is:
- PwC, United Kingdom
- Tony’s Chocolonely, Netherlands
- Woolworths, Australia
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Woolworths’ Chief Sustainability Officer Alex Holt said: “We are committed to creating a better tomorrow for workers throughout our supply chain. We aim to foster transparency and long-term impact to improve the experiences of people today and into the future. We know there’s more to do and we’ll continue to work with our suppliers to end modern slavery”.
2. Stop Slavery Enterprise Award (Small & Medium-Sized Companies)
This Award commends for businesses going above and beyond in their efforts to eradicate forced labour, the worst forms of child labour, and other forms of slavery. The shortlist is:
- Ardea International, United Kingdom
- Sudara, United States
- World Wise Foods, United Kingdom
3. Stop Slavery Hero Award
This Award recognises grassroots organisations that have had a significant impact in the fight to eradicate modern slavery – whether on the frontlines or on a global scale. The shortlist is:
- Centre DIRECT, India
- Impulse NGO Network, India
- Novi Put, Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. Stop Slavery Innovation Award
This Award recognises innovative initiatives in the global fight to end modern slavery. The shortlist is:
- Diginex, Hong Kong
- Justice & Care, United Kingdom
- Traffik Analysis Hub, United Kingdom
Commenting on being shortlisted for the Innovation Award, a spokesperson of the Traffik Analysis Hub: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the 2022 Stop Slavery Innovation Award. Cross-sector collaboration and survivor stories are key to disrupting the business of trafficking. Our platform applies artificial intelligence and machine learning to amplify the clues and help spot the trends to achieve this”.
5. Stop Slavery Collaboration Award
This Award honours collaborative programmes that have had a tangible impact in the space. The shortlist is:
- Sussex Police, United Kingdom
- Tafteesh, India
- Utilities Against Slavery, United Kingdom
6. Stop Slavery Media Award
This Award commends journalists who have produced a highly impactful story, informing society about the often-overlooked issue of modern slavery and human trafficking. The shortlist is:
- Anup Dutta, India
- RK Srividya, India
- Thais Lazzeri, Brazil
- Uzmi Athar, India
Expressing her delight at being shortlisted for the Media Award, Uzmi Athar said: “Stories on human trafficking need to move beyond rescue operations news … There is a need to look at [the] driving force behind modern slavery and viable solutions to prevent human bondage and that is what I attempted to do with my story. I am thrilled that it has been shortlisted for this prestigious Award.”
The winners of each category will be announced at an in-person award ceremony, to be held at Baker McKenzie’s office in London on 28 April. Each winner will each receive a print – conceived especially for the initiative - by Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor.
To attend the award ceremony in London, register here.
