Global Regulation of Corporate Conduct: Effective Pursuit of A Slave-Free Supply Chain

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

American University Law Review

Abstract

Attractive as they seem, free trade and capital flows have also brought about major negative impacts. Achieving socially sustainable globalization and maintaining a global economic order that respects human dignity remains a matter of concern. Human-by-human exploitation in the form of modern slavery is deeply entrenched in many businesses, large and small. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of efforts towards building a supply chain that would be free from questionable practices and abuses of the human rights of workers. Efforts have been made to advocate for a human rights-based code of conduct for businesses, for a meaningful corporate social responsibility, and for ethical consumerism. Existing law, policy, and social activism have made some strides toward committing businesses to trace their supply and to cutting ties with contractors accused of using forced labor. Still, the law is unsettled as it regards corporate liability. Globalization, the complexities of outsourcing, extended supply chains and their mostly unregulated nature have exacerbated trafficking in humans. This extraordinary problem, as it persists, calls for extraordinary measures. A business as usual approach has not solved the problem. It is time for nation states to step up their regulatory approach regarding businesses. Individually and as a community, nation states need to create a rule-based system for corporations forcing compliance, a system that would be workable and effective.

First Page

1821

Last Page

1867

Publication Date

6-2019

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