What is modern slavery?
49.6 million people are victims of modern slavery around the world. From human trafficking to domestic servitude, modern slavery has many names. In every case, an individual’s freedom is withheld by another person or group. Victims are trapped in exploitation through debt, fraud, coercion or violence.
Shifting power to create change
To end slavery we must shift power to those most vulnerable to exploitation and hold those in power accountable. Our response should build power among the people most affected by slavery and enable them to lead the way towards transforming global systems of exploitation.
Only then will we succeed in ending modern slavery for good.
Funding the frontlines
We partner with frontline organisations and communities in slavery ‘hotspots’ – places across the world where slavery is highly prevalent. In each hotspot, we convene a network of grassroots organisations to work collaboratively toward shared objectives, multiplying their resources, impact and influence.
With the right funding and support, our frontline partners tackle the root causes of slavery and contribute to the transformation of some of the world’s most marginalised communities.
Explore our hotspots
Climate justice and modern slavery
Across many Freedom Fund programs, the communities where our local partners are working are bearing the brunt of erratic weather, floods, drought, and environmental degradation. Without other options, when the livelihoods of the poorest families disappear or they are faced with sudden climate-related shocks, they are more vulnerable to distress migration, child labour and trafficking, debt bondage and child marriage.
Our partners have strong relationships in the places where slavery and climate shocks intersect. We believe they can play a vital role in making climate adaptations part of building sustainable freedom.
Our impact
2025 tested the global anti-slavery movement. With foreign aid frozen and human rights funding shrinking, the need for stable, flexible support for frontline organisations has never been greater. The Freedom Fund responded by leaning into our role as a trust-based funder, deepening support for survivor-led organisations and giving partners greater flexibility and autonomy. We remain focused on directly supporting survivors and communities affected by modern slavery and dismantling the systems that allow exploitation to persist.
Across ten hotspots spanning Asia, Africa, and Latin America, partners made concrete gains: workers accessing minimum wages for the first time, families winning access to land, landmark policies enacted, and thousands of children kept in school and out of exploitation. Our latest Impact Report tells those stories.
