Professor Mary Graw Leary has contributed a chapter to the recently published Palgrave Handbook on Modern Slavery. The Chapter entitled "A Tale of Two Acts and the Road Ahead: Understanding Reporting Trends, Variances and Future Challenges to Enhance Corporate Actions to Combat Modern Slavery," explores how regulatory frameworks and market-based mechanisms influence corporate disclosures on labor and human rights risks, focusing on 17 companies in high-risk sectors: fashion, textiles, and food production. It compares laws like Australia's Modern Slavery Act and California's Transparency in Supply Chains Act, finding the Australian law drives more meaningful action. The study highlights challenges in monitoring compliance and enforcing accountability while emphasizing the critical role of regulators and civil society in promoting transparency and stronger enforcement.

You can learn more about the book here.