The FTS Blog provides a platform for dialogue about how slavery affects communities around the world—and what can be done to eliminate it.
Children of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic are especially vulnerable to human trafficking | Photo: FTS/Bardaji
From an early age I felt the vocation to do everything in my power to fight injustice, and I have been working for more than 20 years to advance human rights and gender equality in different countries. Injustice is manifested in different ways with different peculiarities and nuances. But in essence it is always the same: the absence of rights and fear of what is different.
This is what brings me to the villages of the Dominican Republic. Human trafficking is read more >
Sustainable fashion activist Amy DuFault is worried these days. Worried that the word feminist – and all it stands for – is under assault. That’s why she’s designed a new way to stand-up for women’s rights, loud and proud.
For International Women’s Day, Amy and TS Designs are teaming up to offer a limited-edition, 100 percent slavery-free T-shirt that is certain to be a conversation starter. The online store at TS Designs is read more >
Colleagues,
We write to advise you of a leadership transition at Free the Slaves.
Maurice Middleberg, Executive Director of Free the Slaves, has advised the Board of his intention to step down from his role, which he has held since 2013. After due consideration, we have accepted his decision with whole-hearted appreciation for the enormous contributions Maurice has made to Free the Slaves and to the anti-trafficking movement. We appreciate Maurice’s passion and personal commitment to end modern slavery, and acknowledge with read more >
The Anyimornu brothers are free today after years in fishing slavery
The work wasn’t bad. It was so much worse. Fourteen-hour shifts. One meal a day. No education, no reprieve, no escape.
Godwin, Ebenezer and Bright Anyimornu endured these conditions for eight years when their mother couldn’t afford to take care of them and her husband refused to help raise them.
Traffickers target families like these in Ghana. In this case, they promised the mother the moon for her boys: schooling she could never afford to give them, apprenticeships that would lead to read more >
What happened to Soni Vanvasi has happened to millions of others in India. Her entire family was enslaved because a child fell ill. Now that she’s free, Soni is determined to prevent human trafficking from ever touching another person’s life.
“I want to educate my kids and motivate others to do the same, so that at least the next generation does not lead a life like mine,” she says.
Her ordeal began three years ago, when her husband borrowed money from a read more >
Editor’s Note: This dispatch from the field originally appeared on the University of British Columbia’s Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program website in December. Free the Slaves thanks the university team’s remarkable effort to help us improve the measurement of our programmatic impact.
GHANA — One of 2018’s Global Policy Projects took to the field in December. MPPGA students Adedoyin Luwaji, Ali Bajwa, John Ede, Simin Yook, and Ros Seibert have been working closely with their client, Free read more >
As the federal government gets back to business this week after the paralyzing government shutdown, the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking has issued its annual ATEST Advocacy Report. The report takes stock of advocacy accomplishments in 2018, and looks toward advocacy priorities in 2019.
Free the Slaves is a founding member of the coalition, and serves as ATEST’s secretariat and co-chair.
You can see the full report on the ATEST website. Here are the headlines:
Legislation: read more >
This statement originally appeared on the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) website. Free the Slaves serves as ATEST co-chair.
WASHINGTON — Four key pieces of legislation that form the architecture of America’s federal response to human trafficking and modern slavery are now law. In the final days of the 115th Congress, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R.2200) and three related measures (S.1311, S.1312 and read more >
Felix studying at FTS-funded shelter after four years in child fishing slavery
Owning livestock can transform a family’s future in rural Ghana. An impoverished farmer can sell the cow’s milk, and use its dung for fertilizer and biofuel.
Of course, it’s never right to sell your son to get a cow. But that’s what Felix Kaletsi’s father did. A trafficker offered Felix’s dad an upfront payment of GHs50 (US $11) and the promise of a cow if the boy would work on fishing boats for four years. Feliz was just six years old.
“My read more >
Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the United States, a key part of Trafficking Prevention Month. There are three simple things you can do right now to spread awareness that slavery still exists. It will only take one minute. Literally.
Share the Facts: See our Trafficking and Slavery Fact Sheet. Copy the link and email it to friends, co-workers, neighbors or relatives. It will help them learn that tens of millions are enslaved today, that most of them read more >
Many businesses will match your contributions or allow you to make tax-exempt contributions directly from your paycheck. Call 202.580.7668 or email narit.gessler@freetheslaves.net for help. Free the Slaves has been approved by the Combined Federal Campaign for U.S. government employees. The number is 11482.
A copy of Free the Slaves financial statements may be obtained by contacting us at: (202) 775-7480 or 1320 19th St NW # 600, Washington, DC 20036.
Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:
Colorado: Colorado residents may obtain copies of registration and financial documents from the office of the Secretary of State, 303-894-2860, www.sos.state.co.us/ re: Reg.No 20163039484.
Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR FREE THE SLAVES, (REGISTRATION NO. CH43520), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of Free the Slaves is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
Illinois: Contracts and reports regarding Free the Slaves, Inc. are on file with the Illinois Attorney General.
Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
Michigan: MICS No. 57944.
Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Free the Slaves may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement.
New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING 973-504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charity/chardir.htm. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.
New York: Upon request, a copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the organization or from the Office of the Attorney General by writing to the Charities Bureau at 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888- 830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Free the Slaves may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
Virginia: Financial statements are available from the, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.
Washington: Free the Slaves is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.
West Virginia: Residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from: Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. CONTRIBUTIONS ARE USED FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN SUPPORT OF Free the Slaves’ MISSION, AND ARE DEDUCTIBLE FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. REGISTRATION IN A STATE DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF FREE THE SLAVES BY THE STATE.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for upcoming Free the Slaves fundraising events in your area. You can find us at facebook.com/freetheslaves.
Scheduled Events:
There are no scheduled events at this time. Keep an eye on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds for updates!
All gifts are dedicated to our programs that bring and sustain freedom for entire communities.
All gifts are used to maintain, support and create programs for FTS and our partners.
Use AmazonSmile while you shop on Amazon and Giving Assistant when you use other online retailers to donate to us while you shop!
It’s easy: Giving Assistant helps you donate a percentage of your cash back earnings to us with every purchase you make at 2,500+ popular online retailers.
Free the Slaves has established a brokerage account that makes it easy to donate securities!
Please contact your financial advisor to request that your shares be delivered to the Free the Slaves account at Morgan Stanley via DTC. For account details, please ask your financial advisor to contact Linda McNabb at Morgan Stanley: (781) 416-2420, linda.mcnabb@ms.com.
Thanks!
