By Carlos
López-Veraza Pérez
Identifying and prosecuting Trafficking in Human Beings
(hereinafter, THB) is often very difficult because of the fear of the victims
to testify in a criminal proceeding. Therefore, it is fundamental that there is
cooperation among states, at all levels and with a holistic plan of action.
However, we usually forget the major role that legal persons can play in
combating THB, despite studies showing the importance of companies in this
globalized crime. According to a report prepared by the Ashridge Centre for
Business and Sustainability at Hult
International Business
School and the Ethical
Trading Initiative, 77 per cent of companies think that there is a credible
reason to believe that modern slavery occurs in their supply chains.
We
cannot demonstrate the real data of the use of corporations to commit THB but
it is clear that THB, by its very nature, it is often committed within
company's activities and there are companies that are most at risk, such as
industries involving agriculture, migrant workers or seasonal product cycles.
Therefore, trafficking is a liability for all companies and that liability
could be in many countries not only moral, but also civil, administrative or
even criminal. For this reason, companies should be aware of the responsibility
that they have in the fight against THB and the serious consequences for them
if their employers or their managers are involved in this type of crime. Apart
from punishment, they would suffer a huge non-material damage as a result of
the process.
