The FTS Blog provides a platform for dialogue about how slavery affects communities around the world—and what can be done to eliminate it.
Field testing is underway for our latest training initiative. A Free the Slaves team this month debuted our new handbook on the liberation, rehabilitation and reintegration of people who’ve been trapped in modern slavery.
The first five-day beta test workshop was conducted in Ghana. More than 20 front-line field workers from International Justice Mission (IJM), Afrikids, the Don Bosco Child Protection Center, International Needs Ghana (INGH), read more >
I am a descendant of slaves. Some of my ancestors were from Malaysia and Indonesia, brought to South Africa to work in the port of Cape Town.
It always surprises Americans when I tell them that people were brought to Africa more than a century ago and enslaved.
Recently, I was the one who was surprised. I had the honor of producing the new Free the Slaves video, “Don’t Buy into Slavery.”
I was amazed to see the haunting images read more >
Institute of Social Sciences seminar
With tens of millions of individuals victimized by traffickers and slaveholders, the world urgently needs solutions that can be effectively and efficiently implemented at-scale in a wide variety of situations.
I was happy to see that many of my colleagues in India’s human rights community were eager to hear how the Free the Slaves Community Liberation Initiative is designed to meet this global challenge.
I had the privilege of being a keynote speaker during my recent trip to India at a read more >
We are deeply concerned by accelerated efforts to deport black Mauritanians living in the United States who run the serious risk of enslavement upon return to their home country. This campaign is particularly focused on Columbus, Ohio, which, according to the Columbus Dispatch, is home to a concentration of about 3,000 Mauritanian immigrants. To date, 79 people have been deported since October 2017 and another 41 are in Immigration and Customs Envorcement detention.
Mauritania is notorious for a read more >
The reviews are in, and our 2018 Fashion for Freedom Event in New York is being heralded as a fantastic success. Scores of Free the Slaves supporters and ethical fashion advocates gathered in Manhattan for the uplifting evening.
“The Fashion for Freedom Event was a snapshot of what ethical fashion can be at its greatest,” wrote Camille Mori in her Ethical Fashion Nerd blog. “We need to keep pushing for change. Even though there was a sense that this is only read more >
Great news this week. Our colleague at the Human Trafficking Institute, John Cotton Richmond, is being nominated to become America’s next human trafficking ambassador (White House announcement here).
Once confirmed by the Senate, Richmond will run the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. The office publishes the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which evaluates and grades the efforts of governments around the globe to eradicate read more >
The U.S. State Department says many African governments are doing a better job combating modern slavery. More than a dozen African nations received upgrades in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP).
The upgrades include Ghana, where Free the Slaves has helped lead a comprehensive program to strengthen communities and government agencies.
“We saw some positive movements across entire regions,” said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo while releasing the report in Washington Thursday. “Of the 48 African read more >
The Free the Slaves Fashion for Freedom Campaign returns this summer to bring awareness to atrocity of modern slavery within the fashion industry. By bringing together brands and speakers that offer alternatives to questionably-made clothing, we will show that there are ethical options for those that wish to become conscientious consumers.
For many people, the word “slavery” conjures up images of a historical atrocity, rather than a modern evil. Few of us, as consumers, associate the word with the products read more >
People who don’t care about intellectual property rights don’t care about human rights either. That’s why Free the Slaves is proud to be affiliated with DH Anticounterfeit, a Swedish software firm that helps companies manage their investigation of counterfeiting cases worldwide. We asked DH Anticounterfeit’s Lella Bräuner about the growing awareness that fakes fuel modern slavery.
Free the Slaves: How big a problem is counterfeiting today?
Lella Bräuner: “It’s humongous. You wouldn’t believe the numbers. Everything around you is being counterfeited, it read more >
One of the most important annual gatherings of anti-slavery leaders is set to get bigger and better this year.
The Freedom From Slavery Forum will double in size and move to the Global South for its fifth annual convening. The event is slated for December 3-5, 2018 in Bangkok.
The forum, for which Free the Slaves serves as the secretariat, is an annual gathering designed to bring leaders from the anti-slavery field together to coalesce, create partnerships, discuss promising 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:
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The Free the Slaves Freedom Circles program is designed to reaffirm the value of annual support at the leadership level. We recognize the vital support of our most generous donors. Your contributions reduce people’s vulnerability to slavery, help those in slavery to freedom, and transform the economic, political and societal circumstances that allow slavery to persist. As a Freedom Circle member, your gift has a direct, immediate and sustaining effect.
