Against the exploitation of children in global supply chains
The supply chain law is in jeopardy. This threatens a setback in the fight against exploitative child labor. Sign here to protect children and the environment in global supply chains.
Sign petitionGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other political actors are aiming to weaken or even abolish the EU Supply Chain Directive – contrary to previous commitments. In Germany, the national Supply Chain Act is also threatened with weakening. Companies would then hardly be required to assume any responsibility for human rights, environmental protection, and fair working conditions in their global supply chains.
We can still save the supply chain law!
The coalition agreement includes the implementation of the EU Supply Chain Directive – let's seize this opportunity together to stop exploitative child labor and environmental destruction. Support the petition of the Supply Chain Act initiative.
Exploitative child labor is present in the production of food, cosmetics, cars, household appliances, fashion, and home textiles. The EU Supply Chain Directive aims to end this exploitation in global supply chains.
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) obliges companies to take responsibility for their entire supply chain. It is a key instrument for preventing exploitative child labor and other human rights violations in the supply chains of European companies, thereby enabling them to fulfill their due diligence obligations. Furthermore, it contributes to curbing environmental degradation and thus protects the health of children, particularly in countries of the Global South.
The EU directive is particularly important for Germany because the coalition agreement stipulates abolishing the German supply chain law and implementing the European regulation instead. However, if the EU supply chain directive is blocked, in the worst-case scenario there will be no effective supply chain law left in Germany. Companies would then hardly have to assume any responsibility for human rights and environmental protection in their supply chains – with dramatic consequences: more exploitative child labor, more exploitation, and more environmental destruction.
The Supply Chain Act Initiative is a broad alliance of more than 140 civil society organizations, including Terre des Hommes . Together, we advocate for effective laws that oblige companies to respect human rights and environmental standards throughout their entire supply chain.
The initiative informs, mobilizes, and exerts political pressure to ensure that the exploitation of children and adults, as well as environmental destruction, are no longer part of global supply chains.
Terre des Hommes is an active participant in the initiative and is particularly committed to the rights of children and young people worldwide.
More information about the initiative and its goals can be found at www.lieferkettengesetz.de .
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Terre des Hommes frees girls and boys from exploitative labor, helps children on the run, and protects them from violence and abuse. Together with local partner organizations, we enforce children's rights worldwide.
Your contact person
Katharina Debring
Advocacy speaker