For those of us working to protect human rights, it is easy to feel a sense of fear and hopelessness at the current state of the world. Cuts to both public and private funding and rising authoritarianism have destabilised many civil society groups. In the anti-slavery field, despite significant advances in research, promising supply chain policies and the tireless advocacy of survivor leaders, public attention seems to be waning. Interconnected crises – climate change, conflict and forced migration – are making already marginalised populations even more vulnerable to exploitation.
But even as these challenges mount, frontline organisations don’t back down. Our partners – led by courageous survivors, community members and activists – remain committed to supporting those facing marginalisation and finding creative ways to tackle what often feel like intractable systems of exploitation.
The Freedom Fund works globally to dismantle the systems that drive modern slavery. Since our founding, we have partnered with 288 frontline organisations to impact the lives of over 1.6 million people. We estimate that these global, regional, national and local efforts have resulted in greater resistance to slavery and trafficking for over ten million people. In this year’s annual report, we highlight key stories that illustrate this global impact by focusing on our country and partner-level work.
Every day, our frontline partners demonstrate what it means to show up for their communities. Last March, I met with the leaders of five survivor-led organisations in Ethiopia who are changing the conversation about safer migration and advocating for greater support for survivors of trafficking. During that same trip, I visited Kenya and saw first-hand how partners are helping bring child domestic workers out of the shadows, pushing for stronger legal protections and providing safety and education to those who have experienced trafficking and abuse.
Inspired by our partners’ dedication, we are renewing our commitment to show up for them through funding, convening and support.
Following a year of reflection and consultation, we launched a new multi-year strategy sharply focused on investing in frontline anti-slavery organisations and movements, fostering systems change and serving as a valued funding partner. In order to get even more resources to community-led organisations, we will lean into our role as a funder, prioritise flexible support and create more space for partners to lead. We have set ambitious goals: by the end of 2030, we will have strengthened the organisational development of at least 500 frontline partners, including 200 survivor-led organisations, and enabled 20 million people to live in communities with improved resistance to modern slavery.
We are able to set these bold objectives thanks to the consistent and unwavering support of our visionary founders and donors. Their steadfast belief in our mission has shaped everything we’ve built, and we are deeply grateful for their trust and commitment.
Our frontline partners are our inspiration, and their vision of a world free of exploitation – a world in which communities are not only liberated but thriving – deeply informs ours. Together with donors and allies, we are fueling dynamic, sustainable community-led movements that can bring an end to modern slavery.
Join us in making this vision a reality.
