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Search The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) was pleased to participate in the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour organised by the Argentinian Government alongside the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. CGF Social Sustainability Director Didier Bergeret was invited to speak on a panel entitled “Supply Chains: Getting on top of complexity”, alongside Marcela Manubens from Unilever, on the opening day of the conference.
The ILO estimates that 25 million people are currently victims of forced labour across the world, trapped in jobs which they were coerced or deceived into and which they are unable to leave. In response to this endemic global issue, 3800 delegates, who came from more than 100 countries, presented almost 100 pledges for concrete steps towards the eradication of child labour and forced labour, and the generation of quality employment for young people. The three-day event concluded with the adoption of the Buenos Aires Declaration which spells out principles and actions to be taken. The document urges governments, social partners, civil society organizations and interested parties to adopt these principles.
The ILO has also committed to establishing a Global Business Network on Forced Labour and Human Trafficking, which aims to drive action further down the supply chain and across industry and sectors. The Business Network will provide space to foster collaboration, build capacity, and pool resourced, while providing companies with support to navigate ILOs world leading expertise and network.
We are looking forward to continuing this important work alongside the ILO and are pleased to be part of their Advisory Board to the Global Network. Within this important role, we will review progress and provide strategic inputs during the consultation and design phase of the new network, ensuring that it stays attuned to business reality.
Didier Bergeret, Social Sustainability Director, The Consumer Goods Forum said,
“The event in Buenos Aires represented another important milestone in the global fight against forced labour. We look forward to continuing this work alongside the International Labour Organization and are honoured to be a part of the Advisory Board. It is only through a common vision and collective effort that we can one day see a world free of forced labour.”
As part of the CGF’s regional outreach in Latin America, Didier also attended the “Seminario Internacional de Sustenabilidad Alimentaria” in Chile, organised by ProChile.
