Blog
From Research to Action: Advancing Change for Child Domestic Workers in Kathmandu (Part II)
In Kathmandu, tens of thousands of children work as domestic workers, often arriving with promises of education and better opportunities. A new report by Free the Slaves and CWISH Nepal reveals the realities of this largely invisible form of child labor, and the coordinated action needed to address it. Read how FTS and CWISH are turning research into prevention by bringing these findings directly into classrooms and communities in Nepal.
Advancing Kenya’s Response to Human Trafficking and Human Rights Protection
As human trafficking evolves, national responses must adapt to new risks, from technology-facilitated exploitation to complex migration pathways. In Kenya, recent policy and human rights engagements brought together government, civil society, and survivor voices to strengthen legal frameworks, improve protection systems, and ensure that commitments translate into real accountability and support for those most at risk.
Survivors of Child Labor Shape National Policy Discussions in Guatemala
In May 2026, survivors of child labor in Guatemala stood before government officials and spoke. With support from Free the Slaves, survivor representatives brought eight concrete recommendations to Guatemala’s national child labor commission, demonstrating what inclusive policymaking looks like when the people most affected are treated as essential voices.
Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Countries in Asia-Pacific – Progress, Persistent Gaps, and What It Will Take to Accelerate Change
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam, Fiji, and Samoa have all committed to ending child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking through the Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder initiative. A new Free the Slaves analysis of all five finds a consistent pattern: strong policy frameworks, persistent ground-level gaps. The barriers are structural: fragmented data systems, an informal economy beyond inspectors’ reach, dependence on international funding, and limited survivor voice in program design. The next phase of progress won’t come from more roadmaps.
Empowering Partners Through Community Maturity Toolkit Training
Sustainable change starts with communities leading their own path to freedom. Through a recent training on the Community Maturity Toolkit, Free the Slaves and partners equipped local organizations in India and Nepal with a practical approach to assess progress, strengthen resilience, and build long-term, community-led solutions to prevent trafficking and modern slavery.
When Crisis Strikes, Migrant Workers Need More Than Emergency Response
Migrant workers in crisis settings often face compounded risks, including restricted mobility, withheld documents, and limited access to information, that reflect deeper structural vulnerabilities in migration systems. Free the Slaves’ community-led approaches, including Migrant Vigilance Committees and the SAFE TIPS Guide, help workers prepare before they leave home, strengthening their ability to navigate uncertainty and reduce vulnerability to exploitation.
Forum on Talibe National Day in Parcelles Assainies, Senegal
In Senegal, communities are coming together to confront one of the most visible yet complex forms of child exploitation: forced street begging among talibé children. A recent forum in Parcelles Assainies brought religious leaders, local authorities, civil society, and community members into a shared conversation about responsibility, root causes, and solutions. Moving beyond dialogue, the forum marked a shift toward coordinated action, with a clear plan to strengthen accountability, support Quranic schools, and protect children with dignity.
2026 Freedom from Slavery Global Forum – Important Announcement
Free the Slaves, as Convener of the Freedom from Slavery Forum, together with the leadership of the 2026 Global Forum Planning Committee, announce that the 2026 Freedom from Slavery Global Forum will be postponed and relocated. The Forum will now take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 5–6 October 2026.
FTS Brings Survivor-Centered Expertise to the Philippines’ Midterm Review on Child Labor
Every child deserves to be a Batang Malaya, free to learn, play, and grow without exploitation. At the Midterm Assessment of the Philippine Program Against Child Labor, Free the Slaves joined government, civil society, and international partners to examine progress, confront ongoing challenges, and strengthen the path toward eliminating child labor. This blog highlights key insights from the assessment and the role of survivor-centered and community-based approaches in building a more effective national response.