On April 28, the Thomson Reuters Foundation held the 2022 Stop Slavery Award ceremony in the heart of London – its first in-person event since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago.
Now in its sixth year, the Award celebrates those dedicated to the fight against all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking. The event convened business leaders, NGOs, journalists, lawyers and grassroots organisations from around the world, all united in their missions to end the global scourge.
See below for five highlights from this year’s event:
1) The six winners of the 2022 Stop Slavery Award were revealed:
From more than 150 entries – spanning 30+ countries – and 19 shortlisted candidates, the following six organisations and individuals were selected as winners by our judging panels for their outstanding contribution to combat modern slavery and human trafficking:
- Tony’s Chocolonely. Winner of the Stop Slavery Enterprise Award (Goods & Service Companies) for their standout commitment to transparency.
- World Wise Foods. Winner of the Stop Slavery Enterprise Award (Small & Medium-Sized Companies) for their best-in-class efforts to ensure high standards and mitigate human rights risks throughout its supply chains.
- Novi Put. Winner of the Stop Slavery Hero Award for their grassroots impact in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Justice and Care. Winner of the Stop Slavery Innovation Award for their ‘Victim Navigator Programme’, which sees anti-slavery specialists embedded within the heart of police forces in the UK.
- Tafteesh. Winner of the Stop Slavery Collaboration Award for their holistic approach to strengthening legal and social systems in India, helping to deliver justice to victims of human trafficking.
- Thais Lazzeri. Winner of the Stop Slavery Media Award for her investigation into how the pandemic exacerbated the exploitation of Bolivian workers in São Paulo’s textile sector.
For further information on the 2022 winners, read our press release.
2) Leading anti-slavery experts discussed how to use human rights due diligence to combat modern slavery:
The Award ceremony featured a panel discussion with leaders in the field, including Barrister Parosha Chandran, Chief Executive of the Sophie Hayes Foundation Red Godfrey-Sagoo, and Director of International Government Relations at Hewlett Packard Enterprise Joel Roberts.
The panellists discussed their experiences working with survivors, the need to develop policy solutions to end modern slavery, and the role businesses can play in tackling worker exploitation in global supply chains. The session was moderated by the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Editor-in-Chief Yasir Khan.
3) Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO, Antonio Zappulla, spoke to the importance of a global and collaborative response:
During his opening remarks, Zappulla outlined how the Foundation is working with companies, investors, lawyers and NGOs to address the root causes of forced labour; issues such as lack of education, poor economic opportunities, weak labour legislation, and worker exploitation in global supply chains.
Zappulla highlighted how this holistic focus on the issues that allow modern slavery to flourish forms a core part of the Foundation’s wider work to foster more inclusive economies, where fundamental rights are protected.
4) Francesca Richmond, Dispute Resolution partner at global law firm Baker McKenzie, outlined three ways businesses can respect human dignity and promote fair labour conditions:
- Crafting and implementing effective corporate culture, systems, and controls
- Reviewing the goods and services that a company offers, as well as the way they are made and provided
- Responding robustly to crises, which may arise through litigation, investigation or media scrutiny
Baker McKenzie was Headline Sponsor for this year’s ceremony, which was held at their London office. The firm have supported the Award since its launch in 2015.
4) Award winners received striking artwork, designed by Turner-prize winner Anish Kapoor:
The six winners each received a custom-created artwork, designed specifically for the Stop Slavery Award by the renowned artist Anish Kapoor.
To find out more about our inclusive economies work, and explore partnership opportunities, email: danielaelyze.wegrostek@thomsonreuters.com
