The FTS Blog provides a platform for dialogue about how slavery affects communities around the world—and what can be done to eliminate it.
June 12 is World Day Against Child Labor, a time to reflect on the fact that millions of children toil in harmful and hazardous jobs. Many are forced to work by their families or by traffickers. Many are beaten and whipped into submission.
That is what happened to Kofi* in Ghana. The photos of the mistreatment he endured are disturbing to see, but we are sharing them with you as vivid reminders that child labor is read more >
On behalf of Free the Slaves, we stand in solidarity with the growing global outcry against racial violence and for racial justice in the United States.
Free the Slaves is appalled by the ongoing systemic injustices directed at Black people and other people of color in the United States. Though the protests we have seen in recent weeks are powerful responses to the vigilante killing of Ahmaud Arbery and the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, these are just read more >
Your generosity has changed lives around the world. The programs you support at Free the Slaves help people learn new skills and start microenterprises that build financial resiliency. Your contributions mean that slavery survivors are less likely to be re-enslaved, and vulnerable communities become slavery-proof.
However, on the front lines of modern slavery today, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse decades of progress. The disadvantaged are being hit especially hard. Many are not receiving government assistance. And a return to “normal” will mean the resumption read more >
Visiting the front lines of modern slavery is a deeply emotional experience. As I write to you today from Northern India, my heart is filled with hope and joy. That’s because of the joy of freed bonded laborers I have met and the progress that has been made in their lives. This comes as today, March 2nd is the 20th legal birthdate of Free the Slaves, and India is where we first helped the enslaved take their first steps toward freedom.
Over the weekend, read more >
The year 2020 brings several important anniversaries. It’s the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Palermo Protocol, the landmark treaty to confront modern forms of slavery worldwide. It’s the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the cornerstone for America’s governmental programs to combat human trafficking. And:
We were born in the early days of the new millennium as a small collective read more >
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth.”
Author William Faulkner’s thoughts about the value of standing up and speaking out capture the spirit of our policy advocacy program at Free the Slaves. Liberating the enslaved will not, in itself, end slavery. We must also advocate for legal, political and social change.
That’s why we need your continued support. We’re building a movement for read more >
Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt once observed that “the future belongs to those who believe in their dreams.” At Free the Slaves, we dream of a future where everyone is free from slavery.
Roosevelt believed in that dream too. Freedom from slavery is near the top of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which she helped shepherd through the United Nations 71 years ago this month.
Making that dream come true is challenging. Our front-line teams are helping residents fight for read more >
It’s a simple concept, and a universal value: acceptance.
“He who is different from me does not impoverish me — he enriches me,” wrote the French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
But in the Dominican Republic, a lack of acceptance fuels modern slavery. Haitian immigrants and people of Haitian descent are the country’s poorest residents. They are discriminated against in Dominican society and in the legal system. Many are not citizens — including children born in the Dominican Republic — and are not read more >
It takes resilience to live in rural Nepal. Mountainous terrain and a lack of roads limit access to healthcare and education. Caste systems and violence against women and children create socioeconomic disparity. Dependence on agriculture and tourism limit the national economy. About 25 percent of the population lives in poverty. Many children are forced into slavery.
The 2015 earthquake made things even worse. People desperate to earn a living left for Malaysia or the Persian Gulf, where young women are enslaved read more >
There are few places on earth where it’s harder to stand up for human rights than Haiti. On this year’s Human Rights Day, we’d like to share an update about our courageous front-line activists there, who continue to fight child slavery even in times of national crisis.
Anti-government protests — some violent — have been growing worse. They’ve limited the provision of medical care, exacerbated food and fuel shortages, and reduced access to drinking water. More than two million children read more >
COVID-19 is threatening to overtake villages in the Dominican Republic because government aid is not reaching immigrant laborers of Haitian origin or descent in trafficking hot spots. Our special Go Fund Me campaign will provide masks and food to victims and the vulnerable.
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.
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