UNICEF/UNODC Blue Heart Campaign
Also known as: Blue Heart Campaign, UN Blue Heart
UN campaign against human trafficking — symbolised by the blue heart, raising awareness of forced labour also in the textile industry.
Description
The Blue Heart Campaign is a global awareness initiative against human trafficking launched in 2009 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The blue heart symbolises the sadness of the victims and the cold-heartedness of the perpetrators; the UN blue colour stands for the commitment of the United Nations. UNICEF participates especially through the protection of children from forced labour and sexual exploitation.
The campaign is relevant to the textile industry because forced labour and modern slavery have been documented in cotton cultivation (e.g. historically Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan), spinning mills (sumangali scheme in Tamil Nadu) and cut-and-sew facilities. Brands publicly supporting Blue Heart commit to supply-chain transparency and often work with complementary standards like Fair Wear, amfori BSCI or SA8000. The World Day against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July is the central action.
- Owners: UNODC (lead) and UNICEF (child protection)
- Symbolism: blue heart for grief and UN commitment
- Textile-relevant issues: forced labour, child labour, sumangali
- Central awareness day: 30 July (World Day against Trafficking)
Properties
| Owner | UNODC + UNICEF |
|---|---|
| Launch | 2009 (UNODC) |
| Action day | 30 July — World Day against Trafficking |
| Textile relevance | Forced labour in cotton, spinning, cut-and-sew |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- UNODC — Blue Heart Campaign unodc.org https://www.unodc.org/blueheart
- Wikipedia: Blue Heart Campaign (English) Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Heart_Campaign
