USCIB Assistant Policy and Program Manager Daniella Goncalves was a panelist at the New York Toy Fair Seminar, “Responsible Toy Sourcing: Maximizing Global Opportunities.”  The event took place on February 24 and brought together toy industry practitioners to discuss current trends and emerging risks and regulations affecting toy manufacturing, as well as presenting opportunities to diversify toy supply chains beyond China in 2020.

Goncalves spoke about the growing trend of human rights due diligence legislation at the national and international levels, as well as regulatory development related to global supply chains, forced labor and child labor.  “Our members have been leaders for decades in addressing human rights in their supply chains and continue to evolve their programs to address emerging risks,” she said. “Corporations can and should continue to operate in line with the UN Guiding Principles, but we also need governments to uphold their ‘duty to protect’ against human rights violations by passing, implementing and enforcing labor laws that adhere to international standards.”

The seminar was hosted by the International Council of Toy Council of Toy Industries’ (ICTI) Ethical Toy Program. The Ethical Toy Program was created fifteen years ago and seeks to equip factories with a code of conduct, training, audits and assessments, certifications and worker well-being focused programming. The program is recognized for its commitment to ethical production through its emphasis on worker rights and well-being.