Human Rights in Value Chain: From Awareness to Collective Action

Connecting our Global Community

Since the beginning, AlterCOP has been about bringing people together to accelerate climate and sustainability action. Our community now spans multiple countries, chapters, and industries, and we are excited to introduce a new way for our global community to connect.

We are proud to launch AlterCOP’s very first global online event, allowing participants from across Asia and beyond to learn, exchange ideas, and take action together regardless of where they are.

Our first online event explores one of today’s most pressing sustainability challenges: Forced Labor, Climate Transition and Responsible Supply Chains

Join Matt Friedman and Sammie Ho Dumas for an interactive fireside chat exploring:

• Forced labor and modern slavery fundamentals
• Emerging regulations and corporate responsibilities
• The intersection between climate action and human rights

Through real-world examples and audience participation, the discussion will explore how organizations can pursue climate ambitions while safeguarding human rights across their value chains.

Join us on September 2nd for an insightful discussion!

Why Attend?

This event aims to raise essential awareness and inspire action within global value chains. Attendees will be inspired by the vital work of Matt Friedman and The Mekong Club, a membership-based organisation dedicated to supporting companies in embedding sustainable labor practices.

Whether you are a sustainability professional, procurement specialist, business leader, student, or simply passionate about responsible business, this session will leave you with practical insights and a deeper understanding of how collective action can create lasting impact.

About Matt Friedman

Matt Friedman is an international expert with over 29 years of experience as a program designer, manager, and frontline responder in human trafficking. He currently leads The Mekong Club, an organisation of private sector business leaders who have joined forces in Hong Kong to help fight human trafficking in Asia. Mr. Friedman has worked with organisations like the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and is the author of eleven books.

What is modern slavery?

Modern slavery, which is a key element of the social pillar in ESG frameworks, refers to the exploitation of individuals through coercion or abuse of vulnerability. In supply chains, this often manifests as exploitative recruitment, debt bondage, child labour, withheld wages, and abusive working conditions. Addressing these risks ensures workers are employed freely and treated fairly.

In conversation with Sammie Ho Dumas

Sammie Ho Dumas is the Senior Director of Social Impact- Sustainability at Thai Union Group. In this role, she works closely with leadership to advance Thai Union’s commitment to decent work and corporate citizenship by 2030. Through Thai Union’s SeaChange® 2030 strategy, she helps create safe and decent working conditions across seafood factories, farms, and vessels.

With over 20 years of experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, Sammie has led CSR programs at Williams-Sonoma, Target, C&A, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle Outfitters. She holds a Master of Science in Applied Environmental Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and is a Certified Environmental, Social, and Governance Analyst (CESGA®). She is also certified in SA8000, a leading social certification for decent work, and ISO14001, an international standard for environmental management systems.

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This is an online event brought to you by AlterCOP, in collaboration with The Mekong Club, Sustainable Procurement Pledge - Singapore, and The Matcha Initiative.

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A group photo may be taken at the end of the event for social media. Let us know if you prefer not to be photographed.