Freedom From Slavery Forum Moves to Thailand in 2018

One of the most important annual gatherings of anti-slavery leaders is set to get bigger and better this year. The Freedom From Slavery Forum will double in size and move to the Global South for its fifth annual convening. The event is slated for December 3-5, 2018 in Bangkok. The forum, for which Free the […]
April 3, 2018

One of the most important annual gatherings of anti-slavery leaders is set to get bigger and better this year.

The Freedom From Slavery Forum will double in size and move to the Global South for its fifth annual convening. The event is slated for December 3-5, 2018 in Bangkok.

The forum, for which Free the Slaves serves as the secretariat, is an annual gathering designed to bring leaders from the anti-slavery field together to coalesce, create partnerships, discuss promising practices, and develop a shared agenda for action.

2017 Forum Participants at Stanford University

 

In 2017, more than 50 different organizations were represented at Stanford University in California (the forum’s report is here and executive summary is here). Participants discussed the state of the anti-trafficking field, as well as five thematic priorities:

  1. Prevalence Studies and Determinants of Slavery: focusing on the new global estimates of modern slavery, which were recently released by the International Labor Organization, the Walk Free Foundation and the International Organization for Migration.
  2. Applications of Technology: how organizations can use a design-thinking framework to solve complex problems both in the field and internally.
  3. Intervention – What Works: a session that looked at challenges faced by NGOs relating to enforcement of victim rights, the criminalization of victims, corruption, and worker protection.
  4. Survivor Leadership and Inclusion: with emphasis placed on the importance of elevating survivor voices and building survivor leadership programs within organizational structures.
  5. Network and Coalition Building: focusing on how NGOs might best interact with Alliance 8.7, the International Labor Organization’s newest initiative to eradicate forced labor, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labor.  

The 2017 forum concluded with commitments to scale-up the event and include more representatives from the Global South, more survivor leaders, and additional voices from other disciplinary backgrounds.

The 2018 forum will serve to catalyze civil society involvement in the global campaign to achieve U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, the end of modern slavery by 2030.

Can you help end the conditions that cause modern slavery?

Related Posts

My Journey as a Survivor Leader

My Journey as a Survivor Leader

From surviving human trafficking to leading the fight against it, Bernadette Agano shares her powerful journey of transformation and advocacy. Through her work with Free the Slaves in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bernadette has empowered fellow survivors, influenced policies, and helped build a national survivor network. Her story is a testament to resilience, solidarity, and the urgent need for action in the fight against modern slavery.

read more
Leading with Purpose: My Journey of Empowerment

Leading with Purpose: My Journey of Empowerment

From surviving human trafficking to becoming a leader and advocate, Fauziah Wanjiru’s journey is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose. Through her work with Free the Slaves and the Survivor Network Kenya, Fauziah has amplified the voices of survivors, influenced national policies, and empowered others to reclaim their freedom. Her story is a powerful testament to the impact of survivor leadership in the fight against modern slavery.

read more
Empowering Students to Combat Modern Slavery with Xavier University

Empowering Students to Combat Modern Slavery with Xavier University

Free the Slaves partnered with Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan’s National Service Training Program to educate over 110 students on modern slavery. Through workshops, students explored actionable solutions, such as leveraging social media and participating in local discussions, to fight human trafficking. This initiative highlights the pivotal role of youth in creating a world free from exploitation.

read more