Child Protection Crisis - The presentation addresses the invisible crisis affecting children, emphasizing the need to focus on issues impacting their well-being [2] - It highlights the vulnerability of children due to their innocence and the importance of protecting them from the harsh realities of the world [3][4] - The presentation uses the analogy of invisible stars to represent children who vanish without a trace in society, lacking data and visibility [4] Missing and Exploited Children - National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals that 127 thousand (1.27 lakh) children went missing between 2018 and 2022, with 47,313 still missing at the end of 2022 [7] - 71.4% of the missing children are girls, indicating a higher risk for this demographic [8] - On average, 70 girls are kidnapped and at least 3 are trafficked in India per day [8] - Missing children are vulnerable to various forms of exploitation, including child labor, child marriage, and the sex industry [6] Education and Child Labor - The importance of education is emphasized to keep children within the system and ensure their safety, referencing the "all pass" policy until 8th grade [9] - Out-of-school children are at a higher risk of abuse due to economic constraints, lack of transportation, sanitation, infrastructure, parental involvement, and poverty [11] - The International Labour Organization (ILO) states that one-third of children in child labor are out of school, driven by poverty, lack of education, and economic inequities [14] - Globally, 160 million children were involved in child labor after COVID-19 [16] Child Sexual Abuse - Child sexual abuse is a violation of rights, body, and trust, impacting many children across the country, often concealed due to fear and social stigma [17] - A 2007 study revealed that over 53.2% of children experienced one or more instances of sexual abuse, with 42.9% being boys, and over 50% of abusers known to the children or family [18] - In 2020, during lockdown, there were 50 thousand cases of child sexual abuse in India, with 1.6% of global child sexual abuse material originating from India [19] - Childline 1098 services received 307 thousand (3.07 lakhs) calls from children, with 30% seeking support and protection from child sexual abuse [19] Prevention and Action - The presentation calls for collective action to protect children by spreading awareness, empowering children and families, identifying and reporting cases, and supporting rehabilitation programs [23] - It encourages individuals to use their talents (singing, writing, teaching, speaking) to raise awareness and prevent abuse [23][24] - The presentation emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in creating a safe and inclusive environment for children to grow [22]

Problem & Impact - Conflict minerals, especially Colton, are smuggled across borders and enter international supply chains, funding child labor, human exploitation, and rape [5][6] - Current international regulations like Dodd-Frank and traceability initiatives like ITSCI are failing to prevent conflict minerals from entering the marketplace [5] - This exploitation leads to human suffering, including preventing young girls from attending school and forcing people into backbreaking labor [3][4] Proposed Solutions - Empowering local mining communities through education, technology, and mechanization to transition to semi-industrial mining operations [7][8] - Implementing traceability bagging systems and blockchain technology to create a permanent, immutable record of each gram of mineral back to its source [8][9][14] - Forming an African Federation of Artisanal Miners, similar to the National Federation of Coffee Growers in Colombia, to offer best practices, equipment, and formalization support [20][21][22] Implementation & Results - The speaker coordinated with a US-funded initiative to construct a supply chain management system compliant with OECD, Dodd-Frank, and ICGLR in the UAE [12] - The speaker assisted the federal government in instituting the first artisanal mining publication system and performed on-site inspections in the DRC [16] - The speaker successfully imported the first clean and traceable artisanal gold export from Congo to Dubai, selling it to an LBMA refinery [17][18] Future Vision & Benefits - Creating socially responsible smartphones and clean gold jewelry lines using ethically sourced and traceable components from thriving communities [25] - Strengthening ties between exporting nations and trade partners, fostering respect, stability, and economic partnerships [26] - Transforming Africa from a source of conflict minerals to a key player in ethical trade and sustainability [26]

Ethical Sourcing & Child Labor in Cosmetics - The beauty industry faces scrutiny regarding ethical trade practices, particularly child labor in sourcing cosmetic ingredients [4] - UNICEF reports 138 million children globally are engaged in detrimental labor [6] - The United Nations calls for the end of child labor in all forms by this year (2024) [6] - World Vision's "High Price of Beauty" report (2023) found millions of children work to produce ingredients for cosmetics [3] Company Initiatives & Partnerships - Sable Labs partners with World Vision to address child labor in cosmetic ingredient sourcing, focusing on traceability and responsible sourcing [2][3] - Sable Labs aims to source ingredients responsibly and traceably, supporting rural communities [3] - World Vision collaborates with women's cooperative groups and fair trade projects to promote ethical cosmetic trade [4] Consumer & Company Responsibility - Consumers are encouraged to inquire about brands' supply chains and ingredient sourcing [7][9][10] - Companies have a responsibility to ensure their supply chains are responsibly sourced [8] - Consumers should look for information on company websites and sourcing statements, particularly for common ingredients like mica, shea, and cocoa [9][10] Obstacles to Ending Child Labor - Farmers facing unfair wages or quota pressure may resort to child labor due to financial constraints [5] - Lack of access to education contributes to the problem of child labor [6]

Industry Problem & Solution - The textile industry in Turkey caused silicosis among workers due to sandblasting denim, a disease previously known from tunnel construction in America in 1932 where 400 out of 700 workers died [1][2] - The speaker initiated the establishment of the Sandblasting Workers Solidarity Committee in 2008 to fight against silicosis [1] - In 2009, sandblasting was banned in Turkey, marking the first success of the struggle, and in 2010, silicosis was included in the occupational disease list, making treatment free [4][5] - In 2011, silicosis patients were granted retirement rights through amendments to the law [7] - The speaker started the Clean Clothes Campaign in Turkey in 2013 and founded the clean fashion movement, producing Bego Jeans to demonstrate chemical-free production [16][19] Global Expansion & Consumer Power - After the ban in Turkey, the practice of sandblasting moved to other countries like Bangladesh and Egypt, prompting the speaker to initiate a global fight [9][10] - The speaker visited fashion schools in England in 2011 to raise awareness about the consequences of fashion choices [10] - Campaigns like "Killer Jeans" and "Deadly Denim" led over 100 brands worldwide to declare they would not use sandblasting in their supply chains [12] - The speaker emphasizes the power of consumers in driving change, advocating for organizing consumers to exert pressure on brands [20] Chemical Alternatives & Continued Fight - After sandblasting was banned, bleaching techniques using potassium permanganate, a hazardous chemical affecting fertility, became prevalent in the textile industry [17] - The fight continues as bleaching techniques with dangerous chemicals are still used in textile production [17]