My name is Grace Kalekye, and I am a passionate advocate against Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery. In 2022, I had the honor of being elected as the most impactful Survivor Advocate by the Elkes Impact Award and Free the Slaves. I was recognized for exposing...
We are excited to announce a partnership between Free the Slaves and the Chab Dai Coalition of Cambodia. Chab Dai Coalition is an alliance of organizations working together to end human trafficking in the country. This announcement marks an important milestone in the fight against modern-day slavery. It helps shed light on these issues and bring resources to those in need, but it will serve as a reminder that there are people out there who care and are willing to take action.
Here are 3 reasons why you should support Free the Slaves through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) : Liberation - Your pledge can literally help us #FreetheSlaves! By donating to FTS, your funds can help support our work in liberating enslaved people in places like...
There is power in the collaboration and action of dedicated leaders to address societal issues. This was clearly achieved when more than 200 leaders from the Philippines gathered together in the Panagtapok 2022 (which translates to 'a gathering' in English). The event...
Nominations are now being accepted for the best local advocate survivor and the most impactful local organization in combating modern slavery in their local communities. Nominations are due by November 10, 2021. Dan Elkes is a visionary leader who established the...
In 2020, despite COVID-19, Free the Slaves found innovative ways to carry on the essential work of combating modern slavery. We also expanded to new regions, driven by our fundamental commitment to human rights and racial justice. You can now see our 2020 annual...
It must have seemed like an impossible challenge more than 150 years ago, that the moral imperative to end the slave trade and injustice it inflicted on Africans could actually succeed. Back then, slavery was considered ethically acceptable and economically necessary....
Lots of people ask us if we’re “winning the war” on slavery. The truth is that in many vital ways, we are! Free the Slaves has awakened the world to the fact that slavery still exists. We’ve crafted a global blueprint for what needs to be done. We’ve pilot-tested...
Submitted by Mata TradersWith its many layers of outsourcing and subcontracting, the fashion industry’s complex supply chain allows for little transparency and accountability of retailers, factories, or governments. Between the tangled sourcing system, downward...
The U.S. can make history by leading the charge to eradicate human trafficking – if political will and funding are provided to support America’s strong talk against modern slavery, says Free the Slaves Executive Director Maurice Middleberg.“The next president of the...
Free the Slaves is thrilled to welcome Rajneesh Kumar Yadav to the staff as our new India country manager, based in Allahabad.Rajneesh is no stranger, he’s run anti-trafficking teams for years as a key staffer at our partner organization MSEMVS.Many of the remarkable...
$5,000. That’s the donation milestone reached recently by a dedicated group of trivia-night participants at a weekly gathering in PulIman, Washington. It’s evidence that a long-term commitment can make a meaningful difference in ending slavery. We first introduced you...
Judaism is deeply connected to the themes of slavery and freedom. The enslavement of Jews during biblical times—and their exodus—has become a central narrative for Jewish people and others who have found hope in it. That’s why Free the Slaves is proud to host new...
With millions of people on the move globally looking for jobs, especially from poorer countries to wealthier ones, it’s easy for traffickers to pose as legitimate labor recruiters. It's a risk for international job seekers everywhere, including those coming to...
Today is the official day for raising awareness around one of the greatest human rights challenges of our time: human trafficking. The United Nations has marked July 30th as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. This day aims to educate people about human...
Free the Slaves is spreading the word about global trafficking on global TV and radio. FTS Executive Director Maurice Middleberg was a guest on the most recent edition of "On the Line," broadcast worldwide by the Voice of America. Even though slavery was abolished,...
SERVING UNITED STATES INTERESTS AND VALUES A Factual Foundation for the Sensible and Humane Treatment Of Unaccompanied Children at our Borders Free the Slaves Policy Brief |July 2014 There was a time in American history when runaway slaves were hunted down and...
Our friends at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center have just launched a new website dedicated to building bridges between people who want to take action and organizations that are working to eradicate slavery around the world. It’s called End Slavery Now....
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says "no government, anywhere yet, is doing enough" to eradicate slavery, and "zones of impunity" exist around the world that allow trafficking to flourish. Kerry’s comments came as he unveiled the State Department’s 2014 Trafficking...
FTS Nepal Director Neelam Sharma flew half way around the world last week to represent Free the Slaves at the InterAction annual forum in Washington. Her mission: build consciousness among human rights professionals that they have a role to play in eradicating...
If you can invest just one hour to learn about modern-day slavery and what can be done to end it, you should watch the new documentary film #standiwithme. After premiering in 30 U.S. cities earlier this year, the movie is now available to watch online. People who...
There was a horrifying phrase in the news this week from Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram in Nigeria, as he spoke about the girls his group has kidnapped. “There is a market for selling humans," he said. He is right, and his comment unveils a terrible truth...
You might feel disconnected from events at remote mining sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). But American consumers are linked to the armed violence and slavery that grip eastern portions of the country. Many everyday products in our homes, offices...
If the battle against slavery hasn't reached your faith community yet, it may be coming soon. A major global faith initiative to end modern-day slavery is taking root. Leading religious representatives and the Walk Free Foundation signed a groundbreaking agreement...
It isn't every day that a child slavery survivor from Africa is a featured speaker at a congressional briefing. But this week, Capitol Hill witnessed the award-winning advocate and child trafficking survivor, James Kofi Annan, speaking alongside long time anti-slavery...
All too often, the price of gold includes a human toll. At many mining sites, children are exploited as workers. A new report by Free the Slaves, Child Rights in Mining, examines the problem of child slavery and child labor at informal gold mines. Investigators...
Last night’s best picture Oscar win for 12 Years a Slave was more that a tribute to powerful filmmaking. And the evening’s final acceptance speeches were more than ritual thanks to Hollywood insiders. The highpoint of the Oscar telecast became an awareness-raising...
Get your red markers ready. This Thursday is Shine a Light on Slavery Day! On February 27th, you can become a part of the international movement to end slavery by signaling to the world that you won’t stand for it. Here's how you can take action to stand for freedom...
One of the founding principles of Free the Slaves is that we must show the world that slavery still exists. That has meant traveling to distant and dangerous places to film the brutality of slavery today, as well as to showcase innovative ways to end it. Over the...
Arriving at the low caste section of Muchkudi village in northern Karnataka, we were ushered into the meeting space in a tiny Hindu temple. About 60 of us were packed closely together, and the infant sitting beside me gently touched my arm, probably to see what this...
Teachers in Brazil say the anti-slavery movement needs an infusion of fun to motivate children to think about trafficking. So, activists have created an imaginative and playful board game. It's called Escravo, Nem Pensar! ("Slavery, No Way!"). To win, players have to...
Free the Slaves is excited to congratulate Catherine Russell on her new position as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. In a joint letter sent to Russell last week, FTS and other groups expressed our eagerness to work with her to bring an end to the global...
There are few things more fundamental in life than marriage. It is the foundation of family. It provides legal and cultural structure for society. There is growing recognition, however, that for many women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC or...
Two economic powerhouses were downgraded today in the U.S. State Department’s country-by-country annual review of global efforts to reduce trafficking and modern-day slavery. Russia and China – as well as Uzbekistan -- were given “Tier 3” status in the 2013...
Today marks the 12th annual World Day Against Child Labor, started by the International Labor Organization (ILO) to highlight the plight of hundreds of millions of children engaged in work that deprives them of education, health, and basic rights. Many of these...
More than 40 sustainable, socially responsible, and faith-based investment groups, who manage over $450 billion in assets, are voicing support today for new requirements that U.S. companies disclose if their products contain “conflict minerals” from central Africa....
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, here’s a stylish way for your mom to show her love for children everywhere. We have partnered with the sustainable fashion company, Hearts, to create the Free the Slaves Key 2-in-1 necklace/bracelet. Inspired by the Free the Slaves...
Editor's Note: Slavery survivor Timea Nagy now helps others escape enslavement on the streets of Canada. She is a recipient of a Free the Slaves Freedom Award for her heroic resilience and ongoing commitment to others. Her group, Walk with Me, has recently released a...
Trickery cuts a wide swath in India’s impoverished communities. People often leave home in search of work, and many find themselves being trafficked instead. FTS frontline partner MSEMVS aims to change that. And young people are at the heart of the strategy. The goal...
Slavery is a global problem, but it can be overcome. It’s a simple but important message. And I was honored to deliver it at Lehigh University’s recent event on human trafficking and modern slavery. The presentation paralleled the 57th session of the United Nations...
Early March includes two key dates that remind us of the importance of women in the struggle for human rights. Today, March 8th is International Women’s Day, a global observance of the contributions made by women who are working to improve the political, social and...
Tina Frundt has always believed in the power of creative thinking -- it helped her survive sex trafficking and become a grassroots anti-slavery leader. Her creativity has recently caught the media spotlight, allowing Tina an opportunity to show a global audience that...
These days, we're used to the image of Abraham Lincoln sitting in a marble chair – at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. But another Lincoln chair is about to capture the public’s attention. It’s the bentwood Hickory chair that Lincoln was sitting in when he learned...
Editor's Note: An op-ed by Free the Slaves Director of Programs Karen Stauss was published over the weekend by the Huffington Post, in a special section they called "Slavery Sunday." Here is her commentary and photos from a recent visit to our frontline projects in...
It's a jumble of memories that encompass my year living in Indonesia: the shock of a sudden, torrential downpour, the flashing colors of a traditional jaipong dancer, the incessant beeping of a thousand motorbikes at rush hour, the lush smells of the dozens of food...
There’s a word that you don’t often hear at this time of year. But it’s a word that embodies how your concern for others is changing lives around the world. That word is TRIUMPH. When families in slavery break free and step into lives of fulfillment, it’s a TRIUMPH...
Lightning struck Manhattan last night. A good kind of lightning. The kind that sparks magic. It struck at the City Winery, scene of our first-ever benefit concert in New York. And it was breathtaking. Esperanza Spalding, a long-time FTS supporter, organized an...
A newly recognized form of slavery is gaining attention among activists, thought leaders and philanthropists. It is forced marriage, and it's a problem in many parts of the world. FTS Co-founder Kevin Bales will be discussing forced marriage and other aspects of the...
We’re all excited that Esperanza is arranging an evening of remarkable music on December 4th in New York to benefit FTS. Buzz is building in the media, too! We hope you can join us. There are still tickets available for the event at the City Winery. Esperanza just...
December 4th brings an amazing opportunity for New York jazz lovers: “A Night for Freedom” featuring Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding performing in an intimate setting. All proceeds will benefit Free the Slaves projects throughout the world. Esperanza will be...