Phil Kowalczyk, President of The Body Shop® Americas; Tamara Mellon, OBE;
Model Alek Wek; and Shelly Simmons, Brand Director for The Body Shop®

The Body Shop® hosted a preview party to publicize The Body Shop® Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People Petition Exhibition. This petition, signed by millions of supporters, is soon to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Body Shop® has made a commitment to the world in which we all live. They achieve this goal by traveling the globe to find unique and wondrous products that are created with respect for our shared environment. They also celebrate the wonders of the world by supporting the people of the countries that create their products. One of their many projects has been helping ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) and the Somaly Mam Foundation in their fight against the horrors of human trafficking.

Tamara Mellon, OBE, and Model Alek Wek

Special guest Tamara Mellon, OBE, spoke to the group and told us about how she became commited to the fight against human trafficking. She had volunteered to help at a shelter for abused women and was shocked to find out that some of the abused women were not just victims of domestic violence, but victims of human trafficking. Mellon designed the new Body Shop® Limited Edition Celebrity STOP Bag which fingers handprints from high profile celebrities including actress Nicole Kidman, Actress Mira Sorvino, DJ Mark Ronson, Chef Jamie Oliver and CNN Host Piers Morgan.

Here is a quote from The Body Shop® about their commitment to the campaign to stop human trafficking:

"Every year more than 1.2 million children and young people are exploited in the global sex trade. It happens in virtually every country including ours. Since its introduction in 2009, The Body Shop along with ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) and the Somaly Mam Foundation has engaged over 7 million people around the world to sign a petition calling for greater protection for victims of child sex trafficking. The Body Shop has raised more than $3 million globally to benefit its partners."

Here is a quote from The Body Shop® website about their values:

"We believe there is only one way to be beautiful, nature's way. We've believed this for years and still do. We constantly seek out wonderful natural ingredients from all four corners of the globe, and we bring you products bursting with effectiveness to enhance your natural beauty. While we're doing this we always strive to protect this beautiful planet and the people who depend on it. We don't do it this way because it's fashionable. We do it because, to us, it's the only way."