Australian civil society combating modern slavery with ethical consumerism is an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Fellowship project led by Dr Erin O’Brien in the QUT Centre for Justice, Queensland University of Technology.
The project
This research project aims to investigate the role of civil society organisations in mobilising ethical consumerism and investor activism to combat modern slavery.
Why is the project needed?
Modern slavery is a complex problem, entrenched in international supply chains in a wide range of industries. The Australian Government’s Modern Slavery Act 2018, requires large corporations operating in Australia to report on their efforts to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains, with the expectation that poor performers will be penalised by consumers and investors engaging in marketplace activism.
What does this project involve?
Through network mapping, discourse analytics, and in-depth interviews with representatives from Australian anti-slavery advocacy organisations, corporations, consumers, and investors, this project aims to:
- Investigate the role of civil society organisations in engaging consumers, investors and corporations to combat modern slavery
- Reveal new and emerging strategies, mechanisms and platforms for mobilising ethical consumerism
- Develop evidence-based recommendations for how civil society can act in concert with the state and other actors to address complex global problems through marketplace activism.