Philanthropy Action

Category: Human Rights & Slavery

There are 9 entries in this category.

May 05, 2008

Human Rights and Philanthropy

The tendency in philanthropy to overstate impact plays a key role in undermining the confidence of the public in philanthropy and non-profits. Several studies have shown that such confidence is at an all-time low. When philanthropy makes assertions and promises it cannot meet, it encourages public cynicism. In the case of human rights, isn’t it enough to say that all human beings deserve to live lives of dignity without appealing to grander claims?

Apr 30, 2008

No Punishment for Traffickers

Nearly every country on the globe is either a source or a destination location for trafficked people (or both). Most trafficking cases begin with the promise of a good job in another location (a separate country, or a different region). The trafficked person goes willingly at first, and only realizes later that he or she has been sold into slavery or debt bondage. While sex trafficking gets most of the headlines, labor trafficking is far more prevalent. The United States estimates that 800,000 people are trafficked across national borders every year, while many NGOs in the sector estimate that the total number, including those trafficked within their home country, exceeds 20 million. 

Apr 07, 2008

Grim News From Afghanistan

Poppy cultivation and wasted foreign aid are like twin sisters perpetuating the cycle of poverty within Afghanistan.

Mar 14, 2008

Legalization and Criminalization of Illicit Trade

Experts in a variety of fields passionately debate how to combat illicit trade in everything from drugs to endangered species to, worst of all, people. There are rational, credible arguments for both criminalizing and aggressively prosecuting those engaged in illicit trade and for legalizing and regulating the trade.

Jun 25, 2007

Tolerance a Boon to Slavery

While poverty is certainly one of the main factors driving the persistence of slavery it is by no means the only one. In fact, while India and China have succeeded spectacularly at reducing poverty, slavery persists and is quite possibly growing. At root is a tolerance for slavery, whether from corrupt government officials, cultural apologists or passive business partners. 

May 02, 2007

How Do You Empower Women?

Some recent efforts focused on empowering women have in fact had the opposite effect.

Mar 14, 2007

U.S. Far From Free for its Migrant Workers

A new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center questions whether guest worker programs in fact benefit workers as they should. 

Sep 13, 2006

Child Labor Rates on the Rise in Sub-Saharan Africa

In developing countries around the world child labor rates have declined rapidly over the past decades. Sub-Saharan Africa is the one exception.