Large sporting events such as this summer's Olympic Games in London are sadly often occasions when human trafficking, especially the exploitation of children in the sex trade, increases.

The Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), of which the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and the Maryknoll Sisters have been active members, works on raising awareness of and ending human trafficking in all its forms.

ICCR writes, "Human trafficking is a particularly virulent human rights abuse precisely for its ability to commoditize and, thereby, dehumanize its victims. The most common forms of human trafficking and modern-day slavery include forced labor, bonded and debt labor, involuntary domestic servitude and, perhaps worst of all, forced child labor, the use of child soldiers and child sex trafficking. What they all have in common, however, is the exploitation of the world's most economically vulnerable citizens, mainly women and children, and while we are loathe to concede that these practices could persist in the present day, unfortunately, they do—every day and all across the globe."

ICCR has raised concerns about forced labor and human trafficking risks with Olympic sponsors and major London area hotels. Led by Christian Brothers Investment Services, ICCR and other groups, including ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes), have developed a human rights framework to identify risks, evaluate supply chains and recruitment practices, train staff and suppliers, build alliances with labor ministries and social service agencies, evaluate opportunities for public messaging and report progress.

Two guides from ICCR spell out these proposals: Effective Supply Chain Accountability (which includes a brief summary of the recently enacted California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, SB 657) and Celebration Without Exploitation, a toolkit that offers ideas and resources for investors to leverage various sectors against human trafficking.

The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act requires companies doing business in California with global revenues exceeding $100 million to publicly disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and trafficking from their direct supply chain. The legislation will impact over 3,000 companies worldwide and is held to be the precursor to further anti-trafficking laws.

Sister of St. Joseph Kathleen Coll, who works with ICCR member Catholic Health East, says, "When global household brands like [Olympic sponsors McDonalds, Cadbury, Coke, Cisco, British Airways and Panasonic] begin using their media clout to promote awareness and educate the public about how they can help stop human trafficking—and not just to sell more product—we will be witnessing true corporate social responsibility."