Mission, Vision, History, Values

Free the Slaves is in the vanguard of the growing global movement to end one of history’s greatest human rights abuses. We work locally, in some of the world’s worst trafficking hot spots, to generate global change.

Our Mission: Changing the conditions that allow modern slavery to exist

Slavery is the result of vulnerability. It flourishes where people cannot meet their basic needs and lack economic opportunity, education, health care, and honest government.

Slaves usually come from the poor, the desperate, the uneducated, the marginalized, and the unprotected. People are forced to work without pay, under threat of violence, and they’re unable to walk away.

Our strategy is to reduce people’s vulnerability, help those in slavery to freedom, and transform the political, economic, cultural, and social circumstances that make slavery possible.

Our Vision: A community-based model for freedom

We help communities chart their own path toward sustainable freedom based on their unique needs and circumstances.

We strengthen the capacity of grassroots organizations, government agencies, advocacy coalitions, and the media to take action. We support vulnerable communities through education, mobilization, and increasing access to education, vocational training, and essential services.

We rescue those in slavery and help them rejoin their families and communities. We record and share success stories so the world can see what both slavery and freedom look like. And we systematically assess our work to ensure accountability and continuously improve our programs. Free the Slaves co-implements all community projects with and through locally-based organizations.

Our History: Anti-slavery pioneers and innovators

Free the Slaves was founded in 2000—and today we are considered a leader and pioneer in the modern abolitionist movement.

We have helped awaken the world to the fact that slavery still exists, why it does, and where it’s worst. We’ve developed a global blueprint for change to inform governments, international institutions, faith communities, businesses, and the public what they can do.

We’re now implementing our community-based strategy in strategically selected countries. Our groundbreaking research and rigorous evaluation informs our policy advocacy to strengthen anti-slavery laws and rid slavery from manufacturing supply chains and business practices.

Our Impact: Thousands freed from slavery

Our model delivers results. Since our founding in 2000:

  • 15,000 + people freed from slavery
  • 650,000 + people in trafficking hot spots reached through awareness raising and rights education to prevent their enslavement
  • 300+ traffickers arrested

Our Values: Integrity, Collaboration & Compassion, Commitment to Excellence, Respect for Human Rights

  • Integrity: Free the Slaves works with high moral principles as one structured team
  • Collaboration and compassion: We work with trust, respect, and willingness, and treat everybody with absolute justice, equity, and respect
  • Commitment to excellence: We work hard, adapt, and learn consistently
  • Respect for human rights: We are guided by fundamental human rights standards and principles

Click here for our Free the Slaves Information Kit

Click here for our brochure on how we help people break free and stay free

Click here for our Slavery and Trafficking Fact Sheet

Click here for our most recent Free the Slaves Annual Report

Click here for our 2021-2031 Strategic Plan summary

Click here for our fighting for Freedom Timeline for highlights of our first 20 years of accomplishments

Click here for awards received by Free the Slaves and our partners

Click here for FTS Policies including website privacy, donor privacy, whistleblower protection, conflict of interest, and consumer disclosure information