Barbados

In Barbados, Free the Slaves is advancing a regionally integrated approach to end modern slavery. Since launching efforts in 2022, FTS has fostered strategic partnerships with civil society organizations and built momentum through active engagement in regional forums. Our collaboration with Soroptimist International Caribbean Network (SICN), a Barbados-registered organization, has deepened grassroots capacity and strengthened advocacy for the country’s potential designation as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder. Through policy engagement, movement building, and Community Liberation Initiative (CLI) training, FTS is helping position Barbados as a leader in the Caribbean-wide effort to confront trafficking, labor exploitation, and child sexual abuse.

slaves per 1,000 people of the Barbados population

Sources

According to the 2018 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 2.7 in every thousand people were in modern slavery in Barbados at any point in 2016. This translated to less than 1,000 people from a population of 284,000. In terms of vulnerability to modern slavery, the country ranked 112th in the world at that time.

The main forms of slavery identified in the country are trafficking for sexual exploitation, child sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, and possible marriage of children (under 18 years of age).

Specific information about unique problems in the country.
Documented and undocumented migrants from Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and Venezuela are at high risk for trafficking, and individuals from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are also vulnerable. Jamaican and Venezuelan women allegedly travel to Barbados to engage in commercial sex and reports are that foreign young women go missing in disproportionately higher numbers. It is noted that social media is increasingly being utilized to lure victims.

Year FTS started working in Barbados

In Barbados, Free the Slaves is working to tackle the multifaceted challenges of modern slavery. Our projects are designed to address immediate issues as well as build long-term resilience against the threats of bonded labor, trafficking, and other forms of slavery. Below, we spotlight our activities showcasing our comprehensive approach in Barbados.

Policy and Advocacy

Free the Slaves has actively engaged Barbadian stakeholders in regional anti-slavery efforts. In February 2023, Barbadian nationals—including representatives from our partner organization—participated both in-person and virtually in the first Caribbean Regional Freedom from Slavery Forum held in Trinidad and Tobago. The forum generated key recommendations to strengthen policy, advocacy, and strategies for prevention, protection, and prosecution. Additionally, our Memorandum of Understanding with Soroptimist International Caribbean Network (SICN), registered in Barbados, supports ongoing collaboration to promote the Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country process and advance more effective responses to modern slavery across the Caribbean, including in Barbados.

Partnerships and Services

Free the Slaves has been steadily expanding its network of partnerships in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. In 2022, we signed agreements with two civil society organizations in Barbados, and in 2024 formalized a regional partnership with Soroptimist International Caribbean Network (SICN)—a Barbados-registered organization that champions the rights of women and girls across the Caribbean. Through this MoU, FTS now collaborates with all Soroptimist Clubs in the region. Even prior to signing, SICN played a key role in connecting FTS with government and civil society stakeholders in Barbados, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, contributing to the success of our April 2024 Eastern Caribbean outreach tour. FTS has also established a positive working relationship with the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, which provided valuable insights that strengthened our regional engagement efforts.

Training and Capacity Building

In 2025, we successfully conducted a virtual CLI workshop with another civil society organization and are committed to deepening their capacity through future training. Our Memorandum of Understanding with Soroptimist International Caribbean Network (SICN) also includes a provision to train SICN members—including those in Barbados—on the CLI Toolkit, further strengthening grassroots capacity to address modern slavery across the region.

Research

While Free the Slaves has not conducted country-specific research in Barbados to date, the nation is actively represented in regional research efforts. The Co-Chair of the Research Committee of the Caribbean Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons (CCATIP) is a Barbadian national who has conducted anti-trafficking research across the Anglophone Caribbean. Our partnership with Soroptimist International Caribbean Network (SICN) includes provisions for collaborative research on modern slavery and human trafficking in the region, including Barbados. Additionally, a Barbadian civil society organization supported the completion and dissemination of FTS’s Caribbean Self-Care Survey, which explores self-care knowledge, attitudes, and practices among frontline anti-trafficking actors.

Movement Building

Barbados continues to play an active role in regional and global movement-building efforts to end modern slavery. Representatives from Barbadian civil society have participated and presented in the 2020 and 2021 Freedom from Slavery Global Forums. In both 2023 and 2024, Barbados was represented in the planning and delivery of the Caribbean Regional Freedom from Slavery Forums, which serve as the primary platforms for collaboration and strategy development in the region. These efforts culminated in the launch of the Caribbean Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons (CCATIP) in July 2024. Barbados is represented on CCATIP’s Leadership Committee through both a representative of Soroptimist International Caribbean Network (SICN), which is registered in Barbados, and an academic who is a Barbadian national—underscoring the country’s leadership in shaping the regional anti-trafficking agenda.

FTS Strategy for Barbados

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Movement Building

FTS’s movement-building strategy centers on fostering collaboration and leadership across the Caribbean. In Barbados, this includes participation in the 2023 and 2024 Caribbean Regional Freedom from Slavery Forums, which catalyzed the creation of the Caribbean Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons (CCATIP). Barbadian representatives serve on CCATIP’s leadership, ensuring national voices shape regional anti-slavery priorities. The strategy emphasizes survivor inclusion, civil society leadership, and knowledge exchange to grow a unified, action-oriented regional movement.

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Partnerships and Services

FTS builds partnerships with local civil society organizations to enhance service delivery and survivor support systems. Through formal agreements, such as the MoU with Soroptimist International Caribbean Network (SICN), FTS facilitates access to tools like the Community Liberation Initiative (CLI) Toolkit and provides training to strengthen the capacity of partners across Barbados. Engagements also include collaboration with stakeholders in government and diplomatic missions, such as the U.S. Embassy, to support coordinated anti-trafficking responses and regional outreach.

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Policy and Advocacy

FTS aims to strengthen anti-trafficking policy and advocacy efforts in Barbados by supporting the country’s engagement in regional and international frameworks, including the Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country process. The strategy includes collaborating with civil society partners and regional stakeholders to advocate for improved legislation, survivor-centered policies, and stronger enforcement mechanisms. Participation in regional forums ensures that Barbados contributes to and benefits from shared policy recommendations and capacity-building strategies.