The Freedom from Slavery Global Forum 2023 started as specialists, survivors, officials, and activists gathered from all over the world. The forum’s rallying cry was “Time to Act: Galvanizing Around a Survivor-Centered Anti-Modern Slavery Movement,” and it aimed to encourage people worldwide to work together to end modern slavery.
Slavery in the modern day is an ugly truth that cannot be denied. There are millions of people caught in the tangled web of slavery, trafficking, forced labor, and exploitation. The Freedom from Slavery Global Forum was established as a venue for not just discussion but also practical steps toward ending this human rights violation.
Over the course of the three days, many different perspectives were shared. Participants included politicians, law enforcement, philanthropists, academics, survivors, and grassroots activists. Each person’s opinion counted, and they all helped shape the anti-modern slavery dialogue and legislative proposals.
The forum’s panel discussions, seminars, and interactive activities formed a multifaceted landscape of conversation and action. The emphasis was quite clear: on survivors, their expertise, and the development of effective legal and law enforcement responses. The goal was to inspire a shift from a defensive stance to one that is more proactive and puts survivors first in terms of protection, prosecution, and prevention.
The survivors were at the heart of the discussion. Personal experiences, obstacles, and realizations were discussed, giving the conversations an immediacy and sincerity that cold statistics couldn’t match. At the forefront of this movement for progressive change were survivor-led groups, which showcased the projects and programs they had developed to highlight the importance of survivor leadership in bringing about long-term transformation.
The importance of teamwork and interdisciplinary alliances was stressed repeatedly during the conference. The consensus was unmistakable: ending contemporary slavery is everyone’s job, and it requires everyone to work together. Business leaders discussed strategies for eliminating slavery from global supply chains and pledged to implement fair and ethical workplace policies.
The event was characterized by a lively exchange of ideas, information, and experiences, which led to stimulating discussions and encouraged cooperation across industries. The results of these productive meetings are now being used to inform policy and practice on regional, national, and global levels.
Data and evidence-based solutions are becoming more crucial to ending modern slavery. The forum initiated discussion on for better data gathering, research, and technological investment to prevent modern slavery.
Participants left the event inspired and ready to continue the fight against modern slavery. The Freedom from Slavery Global Forum 2023 sparked a fire, advocating for an anti-modern slavery movement that was led by survivors and which mobilized international efforts, increased awareness, and opened the way for actual initiatives. The real fight is yet ahead of us.
All of us, including governments, non-governmental organizations, and private citizens, must leverage this momentum to take concrete steps toward protecting the vulnerable, punishing the guilty, and eliminating the core causes of modern slavery.
The battle against modern slavery is not just a moral obligation but also our collective duty, as was brought home during the Freedom from Slavery Global Forum 2023. Let’s work together to promote strategies that put survivors first and build a world where everyone enjoys the basic rights to autonomy and respect in the future.
Kuldeep Singh
