Blog
Kenyan Trafficking Survivors Lead Landmark Legal Action to Advance Safer Migration and ccountability
In Kenya, survivors of trafficking are leading a landmark push for safer migration. Free the Slaves and Kituo cha Sheria, together with Haki Jamii Rights Centre and 12 survivor petitioners, are pursuing a public-interest case calling for stronger protections for Kenyan migrant workers—especially women employed as domestic workers in the Gulf. The case, grounded in lived experience and survivor testimony, exposes systemic gaps in recruitment, oversight, and worker protection, and seeks long-term reforms that ensure dignity, accountability, and safety for all Kenyans working abroad.
Rallying for Urgent Action: Free the Slaves Convenes Strategic Meeting in Dakar
Free the Slaves convened a high-level strategic meeting in Dakar to confront the rising crisis of sexual exploitation in the gold mining zones of Kédougou. The gathering brought together Senegalese authorities, international partners, and regional experts to strengthen coordination, accelerate protection efforts, and ensure survivor-centered support for the hundreds of girls and women affected. This meeting marks a critical step toward a unified, urgent response to a rapidly escalating humanitarian issue.
Free the Slaves Philippines Joins National Review of Hazardous Child Labor Guidelines
Free the Slaves Philippines recently joined government agencies and civil society partners in a national workshop to review and strengthen the guidelines that prohibit hazardous work for children. As emerging forms of labor and new risk environments continue to evolve, this review is a critical step in ensuring that protections remain relevant, enforceable, and firmly centered on the rights and safety of children. Through our participation, Free the Slaves reinforced its commitment to supporting policies that prevent exploitation before it begins and uphold every child’s right to a safe and healthy future.
Caribbean Anti-Trafficking Conference: One Year of CCATIP, 25 Years of the Palermo Protocol
Free the Slaves, in its role as Secretariat to the Caribbean Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons (CCATIP), helped convene a four-day regional conference to reflect on 25 years of the Palermo Protocol and strengthen collective responses to trafficking across the Caribbean. Bringing together governments, civil society, survivor leaders, youth advocates, regional agencies, and international partners, the conference provided space to assess progress, share innovations, and chart strategic priorities for the decade ahead. Grounded in survivor-informed and community-centered approaches, the gathering underscored that lasting change requires collaboration, accountability, and sustained care for those working on the frontlines of anti-trafficking efforts.
Mr. Bachelal’s Path from Surviving Exploitation to Leading Others to Freedom
Mr. Bachelal, once trapped in bonded labor, turned his experience into empowerment through Free the Slaves’ Community Liberation Initiative training. Equipped with a deeper understanding of labor rights, legal frameworks, and advocacy, he used his learning to secure the release of five workers held in forced labor—and to begin mentoring them into survivor leaders themselves. His story is a testament to the transformative power of knowledge: when survivors are informed and connected, they not only reclaim their freedom—they help ensure others never lose theirs.
Strengthening Networks to Prevent and Respond to Labor Exploitation
Free the Slaves, in partnership with Conexión NGO, recently trained nearly 50 members of the Red Boliviana contra la Trata y Tráfico de Personas (RBcTTP) to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to trafficking for forced labor.
The two-day workshop blended international frameworks, practical indicators, and lived experience to bridge knowledge and action.
A Journey of Hope: Ten Survivors Safely Repatriated from Senegal to Nigeria
Ten young Nigerian women trafficked to Senegal have returned home through a coordinated repatriation mission led by Free the Slaves and partners. Their journey marks not just a return, but a renewal—demonstrating how survivor-centered support, cross-border collaboration, and sustained community mechanisms continue to create pathways from exploitation to empowerment, long after projects formally close.
Advancing SDG 8.7 in the DRC: Building Capacity to End Child and Forced Labor in the Mining Sector
In Lubumbashi, at the heart of the DRC’s mining region, Free the Slaves (FTS) and Alternatives Plus brought together civil society, government, and mining industry stakeholders for a two-day training on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7. The sessions equipped local actors with tools to identify, prevent, and eliminate child and forced labor in artisanal mining—turning global commitments into grassroots action.
Leadership for Liberation: Strengthening Azad Shakti Abhiyan
As part of Free the Slaves’ Community Liberation Initiative, survivor leaders from Azad Shakti Abhiyan gathered in September for a two-day training on Liberation, Care, and Rehabilitation. The workshop deepened their knowledge of trauma-informed care, victim identification, and reintegration—empowering participants to take action against trafficking and support survivor-centered rehabilitation. By investing in survivor leadership, this initiative strengthens grassroots resilience and builds a sustainable, community-driven response to modern slavery in India.