Forging Human Rights by Breaking Chains: Addressing Modern Slavery in Supply Chains in Corporations with Special Focus on India.

Abstract

Modern Slavery is a grave violation of human rights. Addressing it is a challenge, which grows even tougher when the intricate web of supply chain gets involved. These are times where trade practices have turned the world into a small village. The corporates control production and ultimately the supply chains. Corporations can outsource raw materials and labour at the cheapest rates available in any part of the world, thereby maximizing their profits. With the systemic vulnerabilities and disproportionate power differential, modern slavery finds the perfect haven to thrive. There is an imperative necessity for transparency, accountability and solid governance within these supply chains. This article examines the dimensions of modern slavery, its manifestations and the factors that drive it, with a particular emphasis on the existing Indian regulatory framework and South Asian context.