Thought Leadership

Overcoming Child Fishing Slavery in Ghana

A new special FTS series profiles children who have survived slavery on Ghana's Lake Volta. They were forced to work day and night on dangerous, deadly fishing boats. They were abused, held under threat of violence, unable to walk away. Many children enslaved on the...

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Critical Time to Stand Firm for Freedom

This week has been designated as Combating Human Trafficking and Child Protection Week in the U.S. House of Representatives. A good time for a situation update on the state of play for America's most critical human trafficking legislation. Trafficking Victims...

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Connecting the Dots in Senegal

In many of the countries where we work, modern slavery is hidden from public view. But not in Senegal. Child slavery here is evident everywhere. Little boys carrying empty plastic margarine containers cluster on street corners and markets all over Dakar, Saint-Louis...

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Standing Firm for Freedom…

Trafficking Prevention Month ends today, but we would like to ask Free the Slaves supporters to remain vigilant throughout the year. With fast-moving changes at the White House and Capitol, this is a critical time for letting government officials know that fighting...

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How Mobile Phones Provide Hope to Slaves in India

How do you reach people enslaved in India to inform them that freedom is possible? Call them!Mobile phones are everywhere in India, with 220 million smartphone users throughout the country. Even in rural areas, where access to technology remains low, there is usually...

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Catholic Church Responds to Slavery at Sea

Archbishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences, says his marching orders come from the very top of the Catholic Church.“The Holy Father said: Marcelo, I want you to study this topic carefully so that we know...

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Debt-Free Weddings Prevent Slavery in India

Indian weddings are legendary – they are large, loud, colorful, and can last for days. Because it is such a big cultural occasion, families plan the biggest event possible. That expense is how marriage ceremonies can lead to slavery. Helping newlyweds and their...

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Tips for Aspiring Abolitionists in the Making

They’re young. They’re eager. They’re energetic. And they’re the future of the anti-slavery movement. Across America, college students are studying strategies for action in the global fight to eradicate human trafficking.I had the honor to speak to some of these...

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Make the Next President a Great Emancipator!

We need your help to make modern slavery a presidential campaign issue. With tens of millions enslaved worldwide, it’s critical that the next U.S. president make fighting slavery a priority.Today, the anti-slavery movement is launching the Generation Freedom campaign....

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Survivor-Friendly Police Training in Nepal

Police officers in Nepal sometimes respond with indifference to human trafficking cases, impeding slavery survivors’ access to justice.That is beginning to change, thanks to the Free the Slaves front-line partner organization GMSP. It is working with local and...

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FTS Leader Teaches Students How to Free Slaves

When asked what he does for a living, Maurice Middleberg answers with a smile: “I free slaves.” Last week, he told students just how he does it, as a guest lecturer at the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies’ Human Trafficking Center....

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Religious Leaders Vow to Fight Congo Slavery

Seventeen religious leaders from different faiths agreed they’ll take action with their congregations to confront modern slavery, following an in-depth workshop with Free the Slaves and our Congolese partner organizations in Goma earlier this month.The training...

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15 Lessons Learned About How to Free Slaves

Free the Slaves is wrapping up our 15th year of fighting for freedom. It's a good time to not only reflect on our most important accomplishment, freeing 10,000 people from slavery. It's also important to distill the lessons we've learned from years of working with...

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FTS Pioneers New Child Slavery Approach in Ghana

The U.S. and Ghana governments have signed a historic compact to accelerate the fight against child slavery in Africa. Free the Slaves has been chosen as one of the key organizations to lead the way.The four-year project will not only free more than 400 children in...

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New Animated Video: Our Formula for Freedom

It takes more than passion and indignation to eradicate the evil of slavery. It takes science. That’s why Free the Slaves has developed our Community Based Model for Fighting Slavery. It’s a four-step formula that guides our work to bring entire communities from...

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What You Should Know About Human Trafficking

Editor's Note: We thought you'd like to read a remarkable presentation by our Executive Director, Maurice Middleberg. Our thanks to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton, Florida for inviting Free the Slaves to spread the word about slavery today. October 30,...

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