This could become an important day in the history of the modern abolition movement. The U.S.  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to vote on new rules to require companies to investigate their supply chains and disclose if their products contain minerals from conflict areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or surrounding [...]

If you work for the U.S. government, you probably know what the letters CFC mean. It’s the Combined Federal Campaign, and it allows federal employees to donate to nonprofit groups automatically each month. We’re happy to report that Free the Slaves has once again qualified for CFC contributions. Our CFC number is 11482. Federal employees [...]

Free the Slaves is thrilled to introduce two dynamic individuals who have recently joined us to form our action team for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Jack Kahorha is FTS’ new DRC Coordinator, working on the frontlines. He is based in Goma in eastern DRC. Jack is experienced as a journalist, researcher, and [...]

FTS supporters are likely to be familiar with the stunning images of humanitarian photographer Lisa Kristine. She has traveled to the frontlines of slavery to capture the brutality of bondage, as well as the success stories of people breaking free with the assistance of FTS. Now, tens of thousands are learning about Lisa’s journey—both the [...]

People who are new to human rights work discover some pretty amazing things about the world and themselves. So we thought it would be good to check-in with our summer interns about what they’re discovering as they support Free the Slaves. Research: Alex & Anna Alex Woods, a graduate student at the Josef Korbel School [...]

Every year since 2007 Polaris Project has rated state anti-trafficking laws, ranking them into one of four color tiers: Tier 1 (7+ points): State has passed significant laws to combat human trafficking, and should continue to take steps to improve and implement its laws. Tier 2 (5-6): State has passed numerous laws to combat human trafficking, and [...]

Every year since 2007 Polaris Project has rated state anti-trafficking laws, ranking them into one of four color tiers:

When it comes to fighting slavery, creativity and innovation are essential. So Free the Slaves and our frontline partners use art to teach community members around the world about their rights. We’ve found that picture strips are remarkably successful. The images allow those in slavery—and those who are vulnerable to slavery—to quickly see that life [...]

We see slavery and trafficking stories throughout the world each week. It’s great news that journalists and bloggers are exposing the problem of slavery, and examining solutions to it. Awareness creates momentum for change. Here are 10 top stories that caught our eye: 1. “Victory over Walmart and forced labor!” http://www.guestworkeralliance.org/2012/07/victory-over-walmart-and-forced-labor/ 2. Super Bowl And [...]

During the summer months, door-to-door sales crews, carnivals, and rural agriculture hire large numbers of workers. By nature, these jobs are temporary and relocate often. The lack of permanency and lack of formality associated with seasonal jobs heightens the potential for dangerous labor trafficking situations. In order to learn more about labor trafficking during the [...]

You’ve seen her posts in the FTS blog. Now you can read the in-depth account of one woman who decided to take action after discovering that child slavery still exists. The book is called Facing the Monster: How One Person Can Fight Child Slavery. In it, author Carol Metzker describes her moving journey—both physical and [...]

This September, put on your sneakers and join Polaris Project as we embark upon the 2012 DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk! Enjoy this unique opportunity to walk alongside Polaris staff, friends, and supporters who share your passion for curbing human trafficking abuses. More and more, we are hearing about new human trafficking cases being uncovered [...]

We see slavery and trafficking stories throughout the world each week. It’s great news that journalists and bloggers are exposing the problem of slavery, and examining solutions to it. Awareness creates momentum for change. Here are 10 top stories that caught our eye: 1. The New York Times. “Human Trafficking Case Against Executives is Dismissed.” [...]

When I got the news, I rushed to the site with our local colleagues. I knew that this day would be especially important. Labor Department authorities were raiding a brick kiln. Freedom was within reach for 27 adults and 24 children. The raid was triggered by one courageous man, Ram ji (that’s him in the [...]

The ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the greatest humanitarian challenges in the world today. And most consumers are connected to the crisis, because valuable minerals from Congo are used in global manufacturing. Many laborers at the mines are slaves. But there’s good news to report: we’re thrilled that [...]

Katie Ford is no stranger to those in the fashion world, and is no stranger to Free the Slaves. Made famous by her family’s modeling agency, Ford Models, Katie made the transition from CEO to abolitionist after attending a U.N. human trafficking conference in 2008. She’s featured this month in Vogue’s annual age issue, explaining [...]

Throw on a Yankee cap and/or your Louboutins, and treat yourself to some of Jennifer Lopez's greatest hits!

We see slavery and trafficking stories throughout the world each week. It’s great news that journalists and bloggers are exposing the problem of slavery, and examining solutions to it. Awareness creates momentum for change. Here are 10 top stories that caught our eye: 1. AOL. “Kevin Bales: Slavery in the Modern Age.” http://on.aol.com/video/Kevin-Bales-on-Slavery-in-the-Modern-Age-516897243/ 2. Associated [...]

It’s been an intense week for the anti-slavery movement, with four congressional events in three days. Much of the media’s attention went to actress Jada Pinkett Smith’s testimony on Tuesday about sex trafficking to the Senate foreign relations committee. But on Thursday, the focus was on American corporations, and how they can play a leading [...]

It was an overflow crowd as Senator John Kerry prepared to speak, the room full of activists and interns eager to learn. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had gathered to explore “The Next Ten Years in the Fight Against Human Trafficking: Attacking the Problem with the Right Tools.” Chairman Kerry had invited Jada Pinkett Smith, David [...]

It’s like a perfect storm. Events are converging from every direction. If you’re eager to learn about modern slavery and how it can be eradicated, now’s the time. Tuesday features a special 30-min webcast premiere and live chat event to address a critical question: How do we hold businesses accountable for slave labor used in [...]

We see slavery and trafficking stories throughout the world each week. It’s great news that journalists and bloggers are exposing the problem of slavery, and examining solutions to it. Awareness creates momentum for change. Here are 10 top stories that caught our eye: 1. Washington Examiner. “Live Webcast Brings Understanding to Challenges of Ending Slavery.” [...]

It’s taken a while, but the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set a date to vote on rules that could require many companies to disclose if their products include slavery-tainted raw materials. The well-known Dodd-Frank financial reform act got this ball rolling, by including a lesser-known section called the DRC Conflict Minerals Provision [...]

This July, we’ve been collecting submissions for our Photos 4 Freedom campaign. We at Free the Slaves are excited to announce our winner: The Anchal Project. The Anchal Project is a nonprofit that provides alternative careers in textiles to sex workers in India. The beautiful graphic that they submitted not only incorporated our “free” criteria [...]

In Nepal, we call the news media a “third eye.” They play a vital role in development by minimizing the gap between the public and government. They alert the public by exposing hidden issues. If your group and your cause are covered by the media, there is stronger pressure for social justice and change. That [...]