MODERN SLAVERY

Our solutions addressing exploitative practices and their global impact on labor, trafficking and human rights.

What Does Modern Slavery Mean?

Modern Slavery is a relatively new concept lacking universally accepted definitions. It serves as an overarching term encapsulating various explorative exploitative practices for profit, impacting both adults and children, enforced by various entities including state authorities, private enterprises, or individuals. It includes forced labor, human trafficking, and other forms, occurring globally within private workforce settings and beyond. Private enterprises face potential modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains.

Why is Modern Slavery a priority for our group?

Modern slavery, including forced labor, remains a significant global issue, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimating that 20.9 million people are trapped in forced labor, over half of whom are women and girls. This highlights a critical human rights violation that cannot be ignored by any industry, including ours.

Commitment to Human Rights

Our industry is steadfast in its commitment to upholding and respecting human rights in all forms. This encompasses a strong stance against forced labor. As a collective group, we recognize that the respect for human rights is fundamental to the ethical operation of our businesses.

Regulatory Pressure and Compliance

Increasing regulatory scrutiny has led to the implementation of stringent due diligence regulations globally, including various Modern Slavery Acts. These regulations directly affect the supply chains of Accelerate member companies. Ensuring compliance with these laws is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative to protect vulnerable populations from exploitation.

Ethical Responsibility

Forced labor is unequivocally a deal breaker. Our duty extends beyond mere compliance; we are committed to promoting fair and ethical practices within our operations and supply chains. This commitment helps to foster a business environment that respects human dignity and supports sustainable development goals.

 

How are the Accelerate Members preventing forced labor in their supply chain?

Look out for any indicators or suspicious activities that may suggest forced labor from suppliers Report any concerns or suspicious promptly Participate in training programs and awareness campaigns to stay informed Include as part of sustainability factors in sourcing decisions and new supplier evaluations Leverage EcoVadis scorecard results on Labor and Human Rights by sending corrective actions and discussing actions with their suppliers during business review

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Accelerate Initiative membership is open to mobility & vehicle companies that are committed to sustainability and fulfill the Accelerate membership requirements. As part of the application process, each applicant must present their case to the Accelerate Steering Committee. There are two application slots per year.

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