First, the new administration went after DEI, then climate. Now, child and forced labor are being targeted. According to The Washington Post:
“The Trump administration has plans to immediately end U.S.-backed programs that combat child labor, forced labor and other abuses in dozens of countries around the world… The cuts are expected to end 69 programs that have allocated more than $500 million to combat child labor, forced labor and human trafficking, and to enforce labor standards in more than 40 countries.”
Will this lead organizations to deprioritize their human rights programs and initiatives if the US pulls back support of programs in other countries? If those are weakened from the US funding cuts, we may see more pressure on companies to act as substitutes for sovereign policy and rule of law governing labor standards/practices in other countries. While initially that could bode well for corporate human rights professionals, there are already long-lingering questions about the efficacy of corporate actions in this context. Moreover, human rights professionals may find it harder to prove their relevance in the absence (or substantial cut back) of resources in countries impacted by the lack of funding and in-country support.
Members can learn more about human rights in supply chains here.
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