Airline Ambassadors launches initiative at United Nations Commission on Women
March 22, 2017 AAI President Nancy Rivard presented as part of a panel chaired by H.E. Bernadito Auza, Permanent Observer to the Holy See. ” Economically Empowering Survivors to Stay Permanently off the Streets” Other speakers included Peter DiMarzio of Homeland Security Investigations, Sr. Joan Dawber, Lifeway Network, Sr. Lynda Dearlove, Founder Women at the Well and John Lines of Operation Underground Railroad.
SEE UN TV VIDEO HERE
Nancy shared a pioneering initiative highlighting this letter sent to 24 CEO’s in the travel industry:
Dear Travel Industry Colleagues
As a leading advocate of human trafficking awareness in the travel industry, and an ECOSOC NGO affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information and Economic and Social Council, Airline Ambassadors International is committed to assisting businesses to partner with government, and NGOs in implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We urge all companies concerned with modern day slavery to adopt an anti-human trafficking policy that includes the following clause:
“Recognizing the need for long-term financial stability of human trafficking victims to gain self esteem and provide for themselves and their children, our company commits to provide training and employment opportunities to survivors without discrimination and ensure confidentiality to avoid stigmatization in the workplace.”
Implementing this clause is a concrete action that will have global significance and will support the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and specifically Target 8.7, “taking immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking…”.
Many survivors have a criminal record, although they were actually victims of a terrible crime. This makes it especially difficult to get a job and turn their lives around. By providing a fair chance to these individuals, corporations demonstrate social responsibility, help save lives, and gain valuable employees.
In the words of President Barack Obama in September 2012: “This fight ought to concern every person, because it is a debasement of our common humanity. It ought to concern every community, because it tears at our social fabric. It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation, because it endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime. I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking, which must be called by its true name – modern slavery.”
Let’s have the travel industry take the lead to combat the greatest human rights issue of our time. Airline Ambassadors International is advocating the U.S. Congress provide legal and tax incentives for U.S. companies that implement policies to train and hire survivors of human trafficking. We invite your participation.
We will announce your commitment to provide training and employment opportunities to survivors at our NGO-Led Briefing at the United Nations in fall 2017. Please contact us if you have and further questions and/or to share a copy of your policy at angels@airlineamb.org
Thank you for your commitment to combating Human Slavery!
