Taking place on the first day of Fairtrade Fortnight 2016, this event explored the issues and ways in which individuals and organisations can contribute to ending modern slavery.

Slavery still exists in the world today, from trafficking to bonded or forced labour, and effects a broad range of industries both overseas and within the UK. International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that over 20 Million people around the world are victims of forced labour.

The global Sustainable Development Goals call for immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking. Are these only issues for governments? How do we as individuals and organisations contribute to the problem and to the solutions? As consumers many of the products we rely on may have links to slavery.

Through a series of inspiring contributions from expert speakers, the discussion broadens our understanding of the issue, explores the steps that have been taken to eradicate slavery, looks at what more needs to be done, and also identifies what we can do as individuals to be more responsible consumers.

Chair:

- Michelle Brown, Head of SRS Programmes, The University of Edinburgh

Speakers:

- Karen Bowman, Director of Procurement, University of Edinburgh
- Kathy Galloway, Head of Christian Aid Scotland
- Mary Hanlon, PhD Student, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh
- Mei-Ling McNamara, PhD Student, School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, University of Edinburgh

http://www.ed.ac.uk/about/sustainability