Launch and Exhibition at World Economic Forum 2025
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Human Thread Foundation reinforced its commitment to ensuring that modern slavery remains a global priority. Among world leaders, industry executives, and policymakers, HTF leveraged powerful storytelling, critical discussions, and a bold awareness campaign to push for real accountability in eradicating forced labor from global supply chains.
Bringing Modern Slavery to the AI House
At the AI House, humanitarian photographer Lisa Kristine presented a compelling visual testimony on the realities of forced labor in the tech supply chain. Through her photography, she shed light on the human cost behind the industry’s rapid advancements, highlighting the exploitation often concealed within global production networks.
Following her presentation, our founder joined Jennifer Temple, EVP & CMO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, in a discussion on the role of technology in addressing this crisis. Together, they explored how AI, real-time data analysis, and corporate transparency tools could help identify and eliminate forced labor in supply chains, ensuring that businesses are no longer able to overlook these issues.
HTF’s Role in the Global Situation Space
HTF’s work also took center stage in the World Economic Forum’s Global Situation Space, where Lisa Kristine’s images were integrated into a session led by John Morrison, CEO of the Institute for Human Rights and Business. The session examined forced labor in global supply chains, using a combination of data analysis and visual storytelling to illustrate the scale and complexity of the issue.
Discussions focused on key areas of concern, including:
- Commodity Value Chains: The exploitation within cobalt mining, captured through Lisa Kristine’s powerful imagery.
- Factory-Level Risks: Data from supply chain audits showing clear indicators of forced labor.
- Migration and Gender Imbalance: How forced labor disproportionately affects women and migrant workers.
By bridging data with human narratives, the session underscored the urgent need for stronger policies and enforcement mechanisms.
The Launch of the Global Data Partnership Against Forced Labour
A major milestone at Davos was the launch of the Global Data Partnership Against Forced Labour, an initiative bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and human rights organizations to develop and implement data-driven strategies for supply chain accountability.
This collaboration marked an important shift from raising awareness to delivering measurable, systemic change, equipping companies with the tools needed to identify and eliminate forced labor from their operations. By leveraging real-time data and AI-driven analytics, this partnership set the foundation for stronger corporate responsibility and policy enforcement.
High-Impact Awareness Campaign: “No Slavery in Your Supply Chain? Look Closer.”
Beyond the conference sessions, HTF ensured that the conversation extended to a broader audience through a high-impact visual awareness campaign. The “No Slavery in Your Supply Chain? Look Closer” campaign was prominently displayed across key locations, including:
- Friedrichshafen Davos Private Airport – Capturing the attention of corporate executives as they arrived.
- Zurich Airport’s baggage claim terminals – Confronting global travelers with the realities of forced labor.
- Davos Congress Center – Ensuring visibility among policymakers and industry leaders.
With a direct and urgent call to action, the campaign challenged corporate leaders to critically examine their supply chains and take decisive steps toward ethical sourcing.
The “Look Closer” Exhibition at Kirchner Museum
Complementing these efforts, Lisa Kristine’s “Look Closer” Exhibition at the Kirchner Museum provided an immersive experience that brought the realities of forced labor into focus. Through a curated collection of photographs, the exhibition invited viewers to engage with the human impact of exploitation, reinforcing the necessity for global action.
Davos 2025 was a defining moment for HTF and its partners. Through strategic advocacy, storytelling, and coalition-building, the foundation reinforced that the fight against modern slavery requires more than acknowledgment—it demands action.
The path forward is clear: businesses, governments, and civil society must work together to drive accountability and eliminate forced labor from global supply chains. The question is no longer whether change is possible, but how quickly and effectively it will be implemented.
Learn more about our initiatives and how you can get involved here.
