Free the Slaves

?? Registration Now Open! ?? We are excited to announce the 2025 Europe Regional Forum, taking place 5-7 May 2025 at the historic Egmont Palace in Brussels, Belgium! ???? Forum Theme: "Harmonizing Efforts to Eliminate Forced Labor and Child Labor: Sharing Progress and Best Practices in Europe and Globally" Are you based in Europe and working on policy, forced labor, human rights, or related topics? Or are you a company looking to understand new regulations and improve supply chain practices? If so, this forum is for you! We aim to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders to foster collaboration, share progress, and drive impactful solutions. ?? Why Attend? ?? Gain insights into the latest policies and strategies ?? Engage with leading experts, lived experience leaders, governments, businesses, and civil society ?? Participate in discussions on mandatory human rights due diligence, Alliance 8.7, online exploitation, and more ?? Contribute to strengthening action against forced labor and child labor ?? Learn more about the agenda, topics, and objectives: ?? https://lnkd.in/gvM5_Qvv Organized by: ???? Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation ?? Free the Slaves & the Forum Committee: Anti-Slavery International, ASTRA, FCDO – Government of the United Kingdom, La Strada International, the Government of France, SUCDEN Trading ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/gvM5_Qvv Looking forward to engaging with you in these critical conversations to drive action, synergies, and collaboration efforts!

??? Want to understand modern slavery and the fight to end it? Tune into Conversations on Modern Slavery—our podcast exploring its causes, impacts, and solutions. Stay informed, get inspired, and be part of the movement. ?? Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gzJiwcMu #EndModernSlavery

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed for over a century, first recognized in 1911 as a movement for women’s labor rights and suffrage. Today, it is a global day of action, celebrated by governments, organizations, and activists advocating for gender equality, human rights, and social justice. IWD is particularly significant in the fight against modern slavery, as women and girls make up the majority of those affected by human trafficking, forced labor, and gender-based violence. Economic disparity, discrimination, and lack of protections make them more vulnerable to exploitation. This day is not just about acknowledging progress—it’s about demanding more. From survivors leading grassroots change to governments strengthening protections, advancing women’s rights is key to ending modern slavery. Join Free the Slaves in honoring the resilience of women everywhere and advocating for a world where freedom and equality are a reality for all. #InternationalWomensDay #EndModernSlavery #GenderEquality

Free the Slaves, The Salvation Army, Walk Free, and Footprint for Freedom are hosting a webinar during the 69th meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. ??? Date: March 12th ? Time: 8:30 AM (EST) This discussion will explore the driving forces behind modern slavery and human trafficking, the importance of meaningfully engaging with those who have lived experience, and strategies that have proven effective in responding to these challenges. Speakers include: ? Marta Furlan (Free the Slaves) ? Malaika Oringo (Footprint for Freedom/Africa Survivors Coalition) ? Ana Ardila (Walk Free) ? Anne Makumi (The Salvation Army - Africa) ? Priscilla Santos (The International Salvation Army) The webinar will be moderated by Joy S. Kingsley (Footprint for Freedom). We invite you to join us for this important conversation about the realities of modern slavery and how we can work together to address them. Zoom Meeting ID: 841 8093 2120 Passcode: 172686

Slavery’s past is deeply intertwined with the present. Understanding its history is essential to fighting modern slavery today. Our free eBook, Slavery in History: A Comprehensive Look from 6800 BC to Now, explores the forces that shaped slavery across civilizations—and the resistance that led to abolition. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Download your free copy today. ?? Get the eBook: https://lnkd.in/gmzuCCr5

?? Why do so many migrants take dangerous, irregular routes? Because they often have no choice. Lack of legal documents. Confusing or inaccessible border policies. Limited knowledge of safe migration pathways. These barriers push people into the hands of smugglers—making them even more vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. ?? Our in-depth report on migrant smuggling and human trafficking from the Horn of Africa sheds light on these risks and the urgent need for better protections. ??? What we uncovered: ?? Migration restrictions often force people into unsafe alternatives. ?? Smuggling networks frequently overlap with human trafficking. ?? Policies must address root causes—not just symptoms—to prevent exploitation. This research isn’t just about understanding the problem. It’s about driving change—informing policies, strengthening protections, and ensuring migrants are not left without options. ?? Read the full report under "Our Work" → "Research" → "MENA Publications" on our website.

Our new research report, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on emerging market perspectives on business and human right (BHR) regulations is here. ?? Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/e9XCU3WM ? ?? Join us for a deep dive into the research. Our experts will unpack findings, trends, and actionable insights. ? ?? Monday 3rd March ?? 1-2pm GMT ?? Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dMsM7XRR ? What is the report about? ?? BHR?measures for companies and investors have developed significantly over the last few years, from voluntary principles to mandatory regulations – to varying degrees in different contexts. ?? These measures underpin the identification, prevention, mitigation, and remediation of human rights abuses, while many also seek to enable businesses to have a positive impact on jobs and livelihoods, families and communities throughout value chains. ?? Intersecting factors, and the nature of global value chains, can create barriers to achieving positive human rights and development outcomes through BHR measures, as well as unintended consequences. ?? This research sought to identify how the implementation of BHR measures are experienced in EMDEs through a series of first-hand accounts. ?? Their recommendations focus on how to ensure positive outcomes and mitigate unintended consequences for all stakeholders throughout the value chain – EMDE companies, investors, buyers, governments, and workers alike. ? In-country research conducted together with Partner Africa and River Inc. #businesshumanrights #forcedlabour #modernslavery #fiftyeight #fcdo #ungps

?? Stay informed. Stay engaged. Human trafficking and forced labor continue to evolve—understanding the latest developments is key to fighting back. Get updates on policies, research, and action steps that protect freedom and justice. ?? Sign-up now: https://lnkd.in/gExDtWPi #EndHumanTrafficking

?? February 20: World Day of Social Justice ??? Since 2009, the World Day of Social Justice has called on governments, organizations, and individuals to work toward a fairer world. Recognized by the United Nations, this day highlights the urgent need to address poverty, human rights violations, and systemic inequalities—including forced labor, human trafficking, and modern slavery. Social justice is more than an ideal—it’s a commitment to equity, dignity, and freedom for all. This day is observed by governments, labor unions, civil society, and advocates worldwide through policy discussions, campaigns, and grassroots action to combat economic and social exclusion. At Free the Slaves, we believe that ending modern slavery is fundamental to social justice. Millions remain trapped in forced labor, denied basic freedoms and fair wages. Breaking these cycles of exploitation requires legal reform, survivor leadership, and global accountability. ?? How can you make a difference? ? Educate yourself & others—awareness fuels change ? Support policies that protect vulnerable workers ? Engage with survivor-led initiatives & advocacy groups Let’s work toward a world where justice and freedom are truly for all. Join the fight for social justice today. ?? https://freetheslaves.net/

The Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and Free the Slaves are excited to announce that the Europe Regional Forum will be held in Brussels, Belgium, from 5-7 May 2025. Our theme is Harmonizing Efforts to Eliminate Forced Labor and Child Labor: Sharing Progress and Best Practices in Europe and Globally The second edition of the Europe Forum will bring together governments, businesses, persons with lived experience, CSOs, academia, and others to discuss key solutions to forced labor, child labor, and human trafficking in Europe. More details, including registration information, will follow in the coming weeks.