Global Newsroom

Freedom United and HTS are partnering to provide regular snapshots of the latest news on modern slavery. Look here for updated summaries and responses to news stories that relate to human trafficking and modern slavery.

Workers found in debt bondage led to U.K. recruitment agency losing license

Banyu (not his real name) lost his job in Bali at the beginning of the pandemic. So, when he heard …

Global companies will be held more accountable by host of new laws

In July groundbreaking human rights legislation was adopted by the E.U. encompassing manufacturing supply, raw materials and other parts of …

Only safe routes will save lives, not laws that punish vulnerability

Germany and the U.K. have unveiled a joint plan to crack down on criminal gangs facilitating irregular small-boat crossings. This …

High-end real estate brothers charged with sex trafficking

Trigger warning: This story contains accounts of sexual violence  Two high-end real estate brokers in Miami and New York and …

Stalled! Advocacy groups successfully delay Shein U.K. IPO listing

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is taking longer than usual to approve Shein’s London IPO due to concerns raised by the advocacy …

Whereabout unknown: migrant women and children captured off Libyan coast

The whereabouts of twenty-eight migrant women and children are unknown after being captured by armed men in speed boats off …

U.K. supermarkets likely selling ‘Italian’ tomato products from Uyghur Region

Tomato purees marketed as “Italian” in U.K. supermarkets may be hiding a sinister connection to the forced labor of Uyghurs …

New restrictions help, but temporary migrant workers in Australia still face modern slavery

After two high-profile federal cases exposed systemic labor exploitation by foreign diplomats working in Australia, the government has put in place new …

New film exposes state-sponsored organ trafficking- China wants to block it

State Organs is a recently released Canadian documentary. The film exposes China’s sickening state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting through the story of two families …

Repeat offenders: child labor exploitation in meatpacking plant

A shocking investigation by the Department of Labor (DOL) has uncovered persistent child labor violations at Seaboard Triumph Foods’ pork …

While Canada is slacking on enforcement, the U.S. expands Uyghur forced labor import ban

The Biden administration has expanded its Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List by adding 29 companies allegedly linked to forced …

The “outright hypocrisy” of financial institutions and migrant workers

Many global financial institutions like BlackRock, Carlyle, Blackstone, have made pledges promising “responsible investing to combat human trafficking”. However, a recent article …

The challenge of ending child marriage in Mozambique

Child marriage continues to shatter the lives of millions of girls globally, with over 12 million underage marriages occurring each …

Forced labor victory: Volkswagen to exit Uyghur region

Volkswagen has officially sold its plant in China’s Uyghur region, marking a significant step amidst ongoing allegations of Uyghur forced …

Migrants face “paths of death” in current trafficking crisis

Migrants fleeing Afghanistan’s political and economic instability are increasingly falling prey to human trafficking networks in neighboring countries. A recent …

Family-run Romanian gang arrested for trafficking teens

A human trafficking ring made up mostly of gang-members from the same family was recently broken up by law enforcement …

Domestic workers failed by Australia

Never having visited another country, Priyanka Danaratna enthusiastically accepted an offer to move from Sri Lanka to Australia to work …

Advocates call for action as child labor violations spike in Arkansas

A report by the U.S. Department of Labor reveals that Arkansas consistently ranks among the highest in child labor violations compared to …

With new law, EU finally says “no” to forced labor

In a decisive step towards cleaning up supply-chains, the European Union has approved a law forbidding the sale of products …

First anti-slavery commissioner just appointed in Australia

The Australian government has appointed Chris Evans, former Labor minister and former chief executive of Walk Free’s Global Freedom Network, …

In Iraq nine year old girls may soon be legally allowed to marry

Iraq is on the verge of a setback in the fight against child marriage as a new proposed law seeks …

How the U.K. immigration system is turning migrants into criminals

In 2022 the former U.K. government made a ministerial change with supporting legislation that seemed on paper quite minor. However, Open …

Despite violations, it’s business as usual for UK employers of migrant caregivers

A new report uncovered that although found in violation of labor laws, almost 200 U.K. care providers still had their …

Pizza joint found guilty of child labor fined nearly $100K

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has uncovered serious child labor violations at The Outpost, a pizza restaurant in …

6 million to German prison labor compensation fund by furniture giant IKEA

A recent report revealed that during Germany’s communist dictatorship, flatpack furniture company IKEA made use of forced prison labor. In …

Need for safe migration to combat exploitation highlighted by landmark victory

  In a landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECrHR), Professor Parosha Chandran, a prominent barrister and …

Chocolate industry makes billions as Ghanaian cocoa farmers seek a living wages

Ghanaian cocoa farmer Kwame Mensah says he has forgotten how the premium chocolate made from his cocoa beans tastes. “A suitable …

Forced labor in prisons in Nevada ends and national movement gains ground

Nevada has become the latest state to abolish forced labor and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments, voting on Tuesday to …

Survivors of sexual violence and modern slavery being harmed by U.K. immigration system

Britain’s immigration system is a “public mental health concern” according to doctors from Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych). Saying the current system …

Is Volkswagen losing its grip on the market and on its moral compass?

Volkswagen’s (VW) operations in China’s Uyghur region are under increasing scrutiny as human rights groups raise concerns over forced labor …

Child labor law rollbacks disguised as “parental rights”

Back in the 1930s the federal government banned children from working in occupations deemed “particularly hazardous” for youth. But Truth Out reports …

California’s forced prison labor system under scrutiny ahead of Proposition 6 vote

Nicholas’s life in the California prison system was dictated by forced labor. Sick or not, he was required to report …

Are we blaming the players in the hostile immigration policy game?

Thanh, (not his real name) is a Vietnamese migrant who came over to the U.K. on a small boat seeking …

Fisherman recognized as modern slavery victims compensated by U.K. Government

In a landmark victory for victims of modern slavery, the U.K. government awarded £20,000 in compensation to each member of …

Sex trafficking- Abercrombie & Fitch’s former CEO arrested

Trigger warning: This story contains accounts of sexual violence Despite the controversies that tainted his leadership—including a 2003 class action …

Forced prison labor on the docket this election cycle

Join Freedom United’s upcoming webinar: US Elections 2024: Confronting the legacy of slavery! Register here. On November 5, voters in Nevada …

Champagne: a billion-dollar industry built on exploitation

The champagne industry is a billion-dollar enterprise, yet much of its wealth is built on the backs of exploited workers. …

Globally respected Cambodian journalist on human trafficking released on bail

Award winning journalist Mech Dara, who was arrested Oct 1st, was released on bail after providing a video “apology” for …

Survivors of modern slavery in the UK, will they finally be recognized?

Following numerous reports that trafficking survivors had been waiting years to be identified as victims of modern slavery, the U.K. …

Canadian Supreme Court case on sex work reignites debate on decriminalization

The case, R v. Kloubakov, is set to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada in November 2024. The case …

Trade unions at the forefront of fight against forced labor in Myanmar

For over three years, Myanmar’s democratic movement has fought against a military junta that relies on forced labor and brutal …

U.K. Home Office targets migrant workers, failing to address exploitation of companies

The new government in the U.K. has pledged to step up deportations, with those caught working illegally being “detained and …

Child labor violations continue to rise leaving U.S. at critical juncture

Child labor violations across the U.S. are rising as lawmakers have been rolling back state child labor protections. The U.S. …

Debt bondage, abuse, and zero accountability: the state of working in India’s sugarcane fields:

In March, a joint investigation by The New York Times and The Fuller Project exposed the dark reality behind sugarcane production in …

Forced prison labor on the docket in critical California vote

For nearly 150 years, forced labor has remained legal in California’s prisons under a constitutional exception. This November, voters have …

“Free Mech Dara” – International pressure mounts on Cambodian government

Journalist Mech Dara’s reporting on cyber slavery compounds based out of Cambodia shone a light on a rapidly expanding form of modern …

Banning child marriage in the U.S.: making progress or falling short?

In March 2016, the U.S. launched its Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls. The strategy referred to forced child marriage as a …

Children in Haiti forcibly recruited into violent gangs

Haiti’s escalating gang violence is having a devastating impact on its most vulnerable citizens—children. Armed groups are increasingly recruiting boys …

14-year-old South Sudanese girl at the center of a “marriage competition”

Recent data on South Sudan shows that 52% of girls are married before their 18th birthday, with some as young as …

Raw Seafoods sued by migrant tees for child labor violations

Three migrant teenagers have filed a federal lawsuit against Raw Seafoods, a major seafood supplier in Fall River, Massachusetts, alleging …

Even at McDonald’s modern slavery hides in plain sight

More people are living in slavery today than at any other time in modern history. And according to a recent BBC …

Human trafficking hero and Cambodian journalist who exposed cyber slavery arrested

*Update- Mech Dara, who was arrested Oct 1st, was released on bail after providing a video “apology” for his “false” …

Hurricane Helene recovery support in Florida depending on labor exploitation of incarcerated workers

Florida is once again turning to forced prison labor for essential public services. This time the state needs help clearing …

European influencers are cashing in on Xinjiang propaganda

The Uyghur region of China is home to the Uyghur people, one of China’s many ethnic minorities. It is also …

Forced marriage in Tanzania: the issue remains

In 2019, the High Court of Tanzania banned marriage for girls under 18. Sadly, forced marriages still occur across Africa, …

The insidious trade of human organs keeps growing but is still being ignored

The illegal trade in human organs has reached epidemic levels, yet public awareness remains alarmingly low. Nigerian human rights lawyer …

Gloves are off- China hits back against crackdown on Uyghur forced labor

Many fashion brands have been making efforts to purge their supply chains of cotton picked in the Uyghur region  or any element …

EU claims New Libyan center will increases support for migrants

The European Union’s support for the Libyan Coast Guard (LCG) is set to deepen with the opening of a new …

Fashion Week puts a spotlight on forced labor

Fashion Weeks are hitting the runway around the world, but what lies beneath the veneer of glamor? Rampant exploitation of …

Lacking ID, vulnerable populations are falling victim to modern slavery

A new investigative report reveals strong evidence connecting a lack of documentation to an increased risk of trafficking and modern …

Are your household items made with forced labor?

The Uyghur Region produces over 20% of the world’s cotton. What does this mean for the U.S.? It means that …

Slaveholder descendants fund a reparations effort

A guaranteed income program in the U.S. is making waves by addressing the one family’s legacy of slavery. Launched in …

Cyber-slavery survivor story- tricked, trafficked, and forced to scam

Thousands of people across Europe and the U.S. have been falling prey to cyber-scams. Lured in under the false pretenses …

Court rules Italy cannot hinder rescue ships

The president of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Christos Christou, has accused Italy’s government of criminalizing humanitarian efforts aimed at rescuing …

Clean energy may be good for the planet, but is it coming with dirty supply chain?

The U.S. Department of Labor recently released a report providing a list of goods produced using either child labor or …

Job promises that lead to the Russian war zone

The Russian government recently discharged dozens of Indian men who had been forcibly conscripted to fight in the war in …

Modern slavery charges for Sean “P. Diddy” Combs

*Trigger warning: story includes mention of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse. American rapper, record executive, and entrepreneur Sean “P. Diddy” …

Migrant workers in Italy suffering under deadly summer heat

It’s not surprising that we’re reporting on yet another form of labor exploitation in the city of Latina, Italy. Dalvir …

Did you order a side dish of forced labor with your spicy tuna roll?

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is the world’s most recognized ecolabel for sustainable seafood. But Yahoo Finance reports new research published in …

The shackles of modern-day slavery look like risky migration, stolen wages and abusive conditions:

Migrant agricultural workers who come to the U.S. on an H-2A visa are supposed to have their pay housing, tools …

To survive in Myanmar, it may cost you a kidney

Maung* is one of many in Myanmar caught in a downward spiral fueled by poverty, civil conflict, and limited economic …

Dyson loses battle over forced labor exposure

After over two years of legal battles, British household appliance manufacturer, Dyson has dropped its libel case against UK-based Channel …

Hundreds of refugee children in U.K. have vanished and U.N. raises the alarm

After arriving unaccompanied in the U.K. and being placed in asylum hotels hundreds of refugee children have vanished. Many are …

Economic strife and conflict are fueling modern slavery in the DRC

The Global Slavery Index estimates that there are about 407,000 people enduring modern slavery in the Democratic Republic of Congo. …

Nigerian women lured and exploited in Ivory Coast by the thousands

Thousands of Nigerian women and girls, some as young as 13, are being trafficked to towns and cities in Ivory …

Carrying the Olympic Torch: the end of a modern slavery survivor’s journey

In what would have once been only a dream, Mohammed Zaman, a survivor of modern slavery, carried the Olympic torch …

Sri Lankan diplomat guilty of labor exploitation says Australian Court

Sri Lankan diplomat Himalee Arunatilaka has been ordered by the Federal Court of Australia to pay back wages to her …

Inside the human trafficking scandal rocking Scotland’s fishing industry

A harrowing BBC investigation has unveiled that dozens of workers from the Philippines, Ghana, India, and Sri Lanka may have been trafficked …

Propaganda as a weapon: China’s using tourism to paint over genocide

Over the last decade the Chinese government has used surveillance, detention and forced labor to suppress resistance from Uyghurs. The Diplomat reports …

New U.K. policies ignore past lessons and still failing migrants

The U.K. government’s recent announcement of hostile immigration policies has outraged campaigners and experts, who argue these measures endanger migrants …

More victims of modern slavery in U.K. jails than perpetrators

Modern slavery victims in the U.K. are legally entitled to specialist support under the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract regardless …

The formidable organ trade happening in Asia

Organ trading is a lucrative industry generating up to US$1.7 billion annually. The problem? About 10 percent of all transplants …

Exploitation lurking in every scoop- ice cream maker’s sugar coated lies

A New York Times investigation has uncovered the secret ingredient in your Ben & Jerry’s ice cream — modern slavery. DNYUZ …

Wealthy modern slavery profiteers walk free before their victims receive compensation in the U.K.

Seven years after his trial, a modern slavery survivor in the U.K. has finally won compensation from the Criminal Injuries …

Slavery survivor forced to move amid anti-immigration riots

A mother who is a modern slavery survivor and her young daughter have been staying in a safehouse as they …

Uyghur forced labor lead to 5 more U.S. companies blocked

The U.S. government’s move to ban imports from five more Chinese companies over alleged ties to Uyghur forced labor is …

Unsafe migration in Africa creating a lucrative business for traffickers

Migration from anywhere involves a certain amount of risk, and migration routes across Africa are some of the most dangerous. …

Organ trafficking in a digital age

A recent investigation by Newsweek reveals the alarming use of social media and cryptocurrency in the organ trafficking trade. Modern technology is …

Combatting migrant worker exploitation in Australia

Workplace exploitation of migrant workers is a longstanding issue in Australia, exacerbated by a fear of immigration repercussions that often …

Inadequate system in U.K. may be returning victims to traffickers

Thousands of potential trafficking victims known to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the U.K.’s decision-making body on modern slavery, lost …

First conviction for forced marriage under new Australian law

In a landmark case in Victoria, Australia, a woman has been convicted of forcing her teenage daughter to marry a …

U.S. lawmakers demand data as child labor violations rise

So far in 2024, eight U.S. states have passed legislation rolling back child labor protections. This is happening despite the rise …

UK compensation scheme denying modern slavery survivors needed support

New data shows that the U.K. government’s program for victims of violent crime and modern slavery is failing to help …

From modern slavery to the Olympics: a survivor’s dream come true

As the world turns its gaze to the Paris Olympics, the story of Mohammed Zaman sheds light on the plight …

Cobalt mining still tainted by forced child labor despite global pressure

Cobalt is a mineral mined mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is critical to the battery technology …

Instagram influencer hiding a world of exploitation

In September 2022, the families of two young Brazilian women reported them missing, sparking a nationwide search across the U.S. …

Freedom United demands the seafood industry be held accountable

A coalition of NGOs led by Freedom United has called on seafood distributors and retailers to provide updates on their …

Escaping from forced labor on Italian farms

talian police have rescued 33 Indian farm laborers from severe exploitation in northern Italy, authorities announced. The workers were enticed …

Nisha’s journey from forced child bride to educator

“Marriage isn’t a choice here. It is an inevitability. People don’t let you work after you get married, and if …

Big industry with big problems: fast fashion in China

China is both the world’s largest textile producer and consumer thanks in part to E-commerce powerhouses Shein and Temu. These …

Hostile U.K. migration policies need overhaul

Hundreds of refugee and human rights organizations have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to transform the U.K.’s migration policy, …

U.K. immigrant removal center’s shocking state show “contempt for human life”

A damning report just revealed the shocking conditions of an immigration removal center close to Heathrow Airport in the U.K. …

E.U.’s support for Libyan Coast Guard needs to end says U.N. rights chief

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for an urgent review of the European Union’s agreement …

Migrants crossing the Sahara face indescribable dangers

A harrowing United Nations report, spotlighted by the Associated Press, reveals the severe dangers migrants face on their journey to Europe. While …

Californians about to decide on forced labor ban

  In November 2024, California voters will determine whether to eliminate forced labor, including in state prisons. Assembly Constitutional Amendment …

Migrants captured in Sudan fleeing forced military conscription

Migrants of different nationalities are being detained at military facilities in Sudan according to the BBC . Many of those migrants are …

Sierra Leone passes new law to end forced child marriage

On Tuesday, Sierra Leone enacted a landmark law banning child marriage, a significant step towards protecting children’s rights and well-being, …

Ignoring trafficking for profit- Red Roof Inn complicit in crime

According to an investigation by The Independent, sex trafficking survivors are poised to file hundreds of lawsuits against Red Roof Inn, …

“Not allowed to talk, not allowed to cry, only work

Tania* bravely shares her story of brutal exploitation, dehumanization, and cruel physical abuse she experienced as a modern-day slave in …

Left to die at side of the road- the exploitation of migrant farm workers

An Indian farm worker, Satnam Singh, died after his employer left him on the side of the road following an …

Forced prison labor system- in Florida it can be deadly

Florida’s prison system, the third largest in the U.S., relies heavily on forced labor to keep its facilities running and …

Punitive border deterrence policies- the consequences can be lethal

Thirty years ago, the U.S. government officially launched the Prevention Through Deterrence policy at its southern border. This strategy is …

Tour de France: cyclists may be riding on the backs of migrants in debt bondage

Doping scandals have tarnished the image of the Tour de France in recent years. But new research also shows that …

Freedom United on The Deutsche Welle: modern slavery from fields to supply chains

As hundreds of Ecuadorian workers await a verdict in a milestone modern slavery case, Freedom United’s Executive Director, Joanna Ewart-James, …

Juneteenth’s dark shadow: How slavery is alive in America’s prisons

Americans observed Juneteenth this past week – a celebration of the end of slavery in 1865. But how can slavery …

New Hampshire becomes the 13th state to outlaw child marriage! But what about the rest of the US?

New Hampshire’s Governor recently signed a new law raising the legal age of marriage in the state to 18. A …

Deadly Greek deterrence policy-migrants hunted and thrown into the sea

Controlling the flow of migrants trying to apply for asylum in Europe is top of the agenda for governments across …

Modern slavery accusations for U.K.’s richest family

Four members of the Hinduja family, worth an estimated combined total of $47bn and currently the U.K.’s richest family, are …

South Korea’s seasonal worker program- uncovering abuse and exploitation

South Korea’s seasonal worker scheme has come under fire, with accusations of modern slavery and systemic abuse of migrant workers, …

Pizza chain forced labor scheme exploiting undocumented workers

A 48-year-old owner of an American pizza chain was recently found guilty of exploiting undocumented workers in a forced labor …

Shein’s proposed joining of London’s stock exchange opposed by rights campaigners and Fashion Council

Shein has long been plagued by accusations of exploitative and forced labor conditions in its supply chains. In addition, it …

Children being exploited through forced labor by European cocaine gangs

A recent investigation by The Guardian found the continent’s £10bn appetite for cocaine has led to forced child labor on …

Busted! Child labor scandal again at Alabama Hyundai plant

After a 13-year-old girl was found illegally working on an assembly line in Alabama, South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor …

An emerging form of human trafficking: “exit trafficking”

Australia has recognized – and prosecuted – a new form of human trafficking that focuses on the departure, instead of …

British care agencies accused of trapping migrant workers in modern slavery

Lured by deceptive recruitment practices and false promises, foreign workers are coming to the U.K. to help fill in labor …

Missing asylum seeking children in the U.K- the continued plight

On Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, BBC reported that a High Court decision was made on a case brought against the Home Office …

In the midst of Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup bid workers’ file complaint

AP News reports that a coalition of trade unions has lodged a formal complaint against Saudi Arabia, accusing the nation of severe …

Volkswagen’s feet held to the fire by Freedom United and partners

This week, Volkswagen held its annual general meeting and advocates, including the Freedom United community, had one required item for …

California stalled on progress to end forced child marriage

California was on the verge of taking significant steps toward ending forced child marriages, but the opposition has now threatened …

Migrants scapegoated for hostile border tragedies

After spending 11 months in detention, the “Pylos 9” were acquitted in May 2024, but they still cannot walk free. …

The stink of exploitative child labor in L’Oréal and Estée Lauder perfumes

Egypt produces about half of the world’s supply of jasmine, a major ingredient for the perfume industry. But a recent investigation …

Incarcerated workers in America get no protection from injury or death on the job

“I could hear ‘crunch, crunch, crunch. I couldn’t feel anything, but I could hear the crunch.” Blas Sanchez’s harrowing ordeal …

Report reveals Uyghur forced labor still used by BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen

A recent U.S. Senate Finance Committee investigation has revealed the ongoing use of Uyghur forced labor in the supply chains …

At Mar-Jac Poultry using hazardous child labor is “the norm”

On May 1st, the Department of Labor searched Mar-Jac Poultry, a meat processing plant in Alabama, and found that the …

Europe’s hidden support of migrant round up and abandonment

It is well documented that inhumane immigration policies are forcing migrants to take extremely risky routes on their journey to seek asylum …

Forced marriage in Malawi: Memory’s fight

Memory’s life changed irrevocably when her younger sister, merely 11 years old, was forced into marriage with a man in …

Despite ban, Uyghur Region cotton sneaking into US markets

An alarming new report reveals that cotton linked to forced labor in China’s Uyghur Region continues to find its way …

The “Child Labor Amendment”, is it time for a revival of the idea?

Child labor protections in the U.S. are facing unprecedented rollbacks at a rate that hasn’t been seen in decades. In …

Grabbed and forced to be a “human shield”: Abdullah’s story

The Rohingya population in Myanmar were stripped of their citizenship rights decades ago. And now, due to the ongoing conflict, …

U.K. government’s ongoing inhumane treatment of asylum seekers

The Rwanda Bill, discriminatory GPS tagging coupled with a raft of other inhumane legislation, all underline the U.K. government’s current uncompassionate and often …

New Hampshire House passes child marriage bill after controversial remarks

In a heated debate within the New Hampshire House of Representatives, a proposed bill to set the state’s minimum marriage …

Federal investigation finds U.S. company guilty of illegally hiring children

A Tennessee based janitorial service was fined $650,000 after a federal investigation by the Department of Labor (DOL) found they …

The coast to coast fight against prison slavery is heating up!

Watch Freedom United’s event with a brilliant panel of activists discussing forced prison labor in the U.S. For the first …

China’s organ harvesting trade: fighting a billion dollar crime

China’s illicit forced organ harvesting industry, valued at a staggering $1 billion annually, targets ethnic and religious minorities, including Uyghurs, …

Addicted to shopping at Temu? You might be getting a forced labor fix

Temu has perfected the art of gamifying cheap online shopping as reported by the BBC. Using everything from roulette wheels with …

Due diligence efforts in disarray due to China’s forced labor transfer program

The U.S. Labor Department has raised concerns about China’s expanding labor transfer program, which relocates forced laborers from the Uyghur …

Migrant children disappear daily in latest European crisis

The alarming trend of migrant children disappearing daily across Europe continues to escalate, with recent research revealing that approximately 47 children …

Surviving modern slavery and finding a normal life: Loretta’s story

What began as an invitation to work as a caregiver for four children living in the U.K. turned into what …

Child labor trafficking- it’s time to face some hard truths

Child labor trafficking, a grim underbelly of society, thrives in the shadows of everyday life, often camouflaged within the bustling …

Behind online romance scams, torture and modern slavery are hiding

Warning: This story contains details of violence, including sexual violence, which may be disturbing. Names have been changed to protect …

Criticizing the Ukraine war leads to 5-year forced labor sentence

In a recent ruling by the Moscow city courts service, a 39-year-old Russian man, Yuri Kokhovets, was sentenced to five …

U.K.’s cruel Rwanda Bill leaves survivor fighting to protect her child: the human cost of legislation

The U.K. recently passed the much-contested Rwanda Bill that allows asylum seekers arriving in the U.K. to be sent to …

Progress against forced labor: is the E.U. finally getting there?

It has been a big week for the European Union as the Members of the European Parliament voted on several …

Promoting to penalizing: Alabama’s evolving stance on child labor

The “Crimes Against Children Remedy” bill, headed to the Alabama House floor, seeks to increase penalties for employers violating child …

Answering job ads Indian men find themselves on the Russian frontline

Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing. In a classic bait and switch, the BBC recently reported on the …

Advocates warn Thailand is about to return fisheries to exploitative conditions

Thailand is considering significant amendments to its fisheries laws, raising concerns about the protection of workers and the sustainability of …

Migration politics leading to risky routes leading and modern slavery or death

A new people smuggling route has opened across the Carribean Sea via the Bahamas for those attempting to reach Florida …

The vital fight for financial inclusion for sex workers

Becky Webster, a former NHS worker turned full-time sex worker in the U.K., faced another financial barrier when Barclays Bank …

U.K.’s controversial Rwanda deportation policy has modern slavery victims at its heart

In a significant development in U.K. immigration policy, the debate over the Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, recently renamed the …

Record numbers of kidnapping and modern slavery at Texas/Mexico border

Seeking asylum in the U.S. at the Mexico/Texas border has been a risky proposition for years. But aid workers, asylum …

Rohingya victims of ethnic cleansing now forced to fight by the same government

Rohingyas living in the Rakhine State of Myanmar are being forcibly conscripted into the ruling military junta’s army according to the …

Payzee Mahmod’s journey from forced marriage to frontline activist

In April 2022, Freedom United celebrated as the U.K. caved to our pressure, passing the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) …

Is the “Migration Pact” the end of human rights in the E.U.?

After nearly a decade of deliberation, the European Parliament recently passed a sweeping overhaul of the European Union’s asylum and …

The Crucial Links Between Modern Slavery and Access to Documentation

To understand and tackle the systemic barriers that underpin modern slavery, the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) and The …

Sodas “sweetened” with child marriage, hysterectomies and debt bondage

A recent study by the New York Times and Fuller Project reveals the not-so-sweet side of sugarcane production in India. In the state of …

Is migrant worker exploitation the legacy being left by Theresa May?

As Theresa May bids farewell to politics, her legacy is one of controversy, particularly within migrant communities and advocacy circles. …

Emerging human trafficking patterns in Southeast Asia: the rise of the scamdemic

The trafficking landscape in Southeast Asia has changed. The Telegraph reports on what they call a ‘scamdemic’ where men and boys are …

Tuff Torq Corp’s child labor violations set new legal precedents

Tuff Torq Corp., a Tennessee-based manufacturing company is facing substantial fines close to $300,000 for exploiting children and violating child …

Report exposes Dynasty Gold’s complicity in Uyghur forced labor

The Canada Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) released its first final report this week after a complaint filed in 2022 against Vancouver …

What’s left after the E.U. CSDDD compromise?

After extensive negotiations and a near-failure to be passed, the European Council Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) and the European …

Trafficked Malawian women find a lifeline in WhatsApp group

Georgina, a 32-year-old woman from Malawi, envisions a promising future when she accepts an offer to work as a driver …

Forced conscription: Sudan’s descent into famine and violence

In mid-December 2023, Sudan’s breadbasket, Al Jazira state, witnessed a chilling ultimatum: “Enlist or die.” The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), …

International Labor Organization reports “obscene” yearly profits are being made from forced labor

The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) latest figures on illegal profits generated by forced labor worldwide show a huge increase over …

‘Dangerous and abusive” conditions found in India’s shrimp industry

The insatiable demand for shrimp in Western countries has led to the rapid expansion of hatcheries and processing plants across …

Opinion: Is protecting children from labor exploitation a distant dream?

The following is an opinion piece written by executive director of Freedom United, Joanna Ewart-James, for CNN. A 16-year-old boy …

Ahead of Olympics, Paris charities decry repression of sex workers

As Paris prepares to host millions of international visitors for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, advocates are sounding the …

Care workers forced to stay silent on abuse due to U.K. visa system

*Names have been changed to protect anonymity Abena*, Bernice*, and Chidera* came to the U.K. as migrant care workers, only …

Cobalt mining and the quest for clean energy: the dark side

In an episode of the podcast On Point hosted by WBUR, host Meghna Chakrabarti and Siddharth Kara, associate professor of Human Trafficking and …

Global fishing industry SOS: forced labor, abuse and murder

One in every five fish is caught through illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, often in conditions rife with worker abuse. …

Chinese factories hiding North Korean forced labor and sexual abuse

*Trigger warning: sexual abuse* The New Yorker recently conducted an investigation documenting North Korean workers held in Chinese compounds. These workers were …

One woman’s commitment to finding trafficked children in rural India

Rural India is filled with stories of missing children grabbed and forced into various forms of modern slavery including forced …

Sea migrant return scheme denounced by Italian top court

Advocates feel vindicated as Italy’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, ruled earlier this month that it is illegal to …

Human rights in danger due to blockage of key legislation, CSDDD

What could have been a day to celebrate, has turned into a day full of disappointment. On February 28, 2024, …

Organised crime in Africa / New measures needed to curb Kenya’s rampant trafficking

Dangerous criminal networks for drugs, people and arms add to insecurity in the northern part of the country. On 11 …

Kenya’s human trafficking routes: new data insights into high activity locations and regional risk

During the third quarter of 2019, the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) contribution to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – the …

Canada’s migrant workers program denounced by lawsuit as modern-day slavery

When Black and Brown field hands were recruited to Canada to fill labor shortages in the 1960s, a migrant worker program was …

Is legal child marriage in Virginia finally at an end?

Virginian lawmakers are considering a bill that would remove all exceptions to getting married before the age of 18, as …

Kenyan domestic workers demand protection from exploitation & abuse in Gulf countries

A legal case being brought by a group of almost a dozen Kenyan former domestic workers who worked in Gulf …

Oman’s human trafficking corridor

Fareeda’s story Recruited to work as a domestic worker in Dubai, Fareeda, a 49-year-old woman from India was promised a …

Cambodia’s hidden cyber slavery horrors

An industrial park in rural Cambodia is surrounded by a 10-foot-high concrete wall that is lined with barbed wire. According …

Volkswagen linked to Uyghur forced labor by new evidence

In the midst of mounting concerns surrounding forced labor in China’s Uyghur Region, German automaker Volkswagen once again finds itself …

Criminal Exploitation: Modern Slavery By Another Name

Summary New analysis from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Justice and Care reveals that almost half (45 per …

Audits are Not the Answer: Four Labor Approaches to Eliminating Child Labor on U.S. and Global Supply Chains

Darigold processes milk from Northwest dairy farms where children were found to be working in violation of labor laws. Credit:Ruth …

In Sierra Leone, climate change worsens human trafficking of the poor

Two women look on to the site where their homes used to be after the mudslide in Regent, Freetown, in …

I escaped modern slavery. Wouldn’t you want to know if I made your shirt?

According to the Global Slavery Index, nearly 50 million people are living in modern slavery, exploited because of society’s desire …

Why are Ugandan nationals still trapped in Myanmar?

At least thirty Ugandans, are part of thousands of people from around the world still trapped in so-called scam compounds …

Breaking Free of the Thirteenth Amendment’ Slavery Exception

This report comes roughly a year after we published our first report, in November 2022, on the existence of forced …

The Experiences of Children on Sri Lanka’s Tea Plantations: Labor & Sexual Exploitation, Violence, & Inadequate Education

Biography Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Bandaranayake is the Founder/Director of Youth Voice International, which has worked to address the specific challenges of children …

“What We Say Is What You See”: Portrayal by Faith-Based Organizations of Female Survivors of Sexual Exploitation in Cambodia

Abstract The representation of trafficking survivors in marketing, research, and other materials can have a significant impact on the stigma …

New study finds ending prison slavery makes good economic sense

Governments can’t afford to undo slavery in prisons. At least, that’s what we’ve been hearing for years. But maybe they …

Should private equity be held accountable for labor abuses in their portfolio companies?

Private equity firms are increasingly grappling with labor rights scandals within their portfolio companies. As a result, campaigners and investors …

China and manufacturers feeling the bite of Xinjiang product bans

Human rights groups estimate that more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslims minorities have been detained and held in modern slavery …

The “Romeo Effect” and how traffickers use love to lure victims

The Star recently published the story of “Nicole,” a 20-year-old woman from a small town in Canada who fell victim …

Transparent supply chains are the only way forward for business

In an era defined by heightened awareness of environmental and social concerns, including forced labor, the corporate landscape is undergoing …

U.K. modern slavery laws inadequate 20 years after preventable deaths of migrant workers

20 years ago, on the beach of Morecambe Bay, 23 migrant workers illegally smuggled into the U.K. drowned while picking …

Cookie maker being sued over child labor in supply chain

In a landmark legal action, plaintiff Megan Waggener Van Meter’s class action lawsuit against Mondelez International Inc. sheds light on …

Reunited twins victims of decades-long baby trafficking scheme

In 2021 Tamuna Museridze, a journalist in Georgia, Europe discovered she was adopted and started a Facebook group to search …

Prison slavery linked to fast Food Giants Coca Cola, McDonald’s and Kroger

A comprehensive two-year investigation by The Associated Press unravels intricate, invisible webs connecting some of the world’s largest food companies …

Corporate due diligence law one step closer in EU

The European Council has unveiled an updated strategy to address the issue of forced labor within the European Union (EU). Just …

Car manufacturing brands tarnished by Uyghur forced labor still include Tesla and Toyota

A recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) found aluminum made by Uyghur forced labor may be in the supply chains of …

Theresa May to confront Home Office over ‘appalling’ secret policy on trafficking victims

Department has admitted that it hid the policy due to concerns about former PM’s reaction Theresa May is to confront …
north korea

12 years of forced labor for North Korean teens caught watching K-dramas

A video clip from North Korea showing two 16-year-old boys being sentenced to 12 years of forced labor for watching …

Modern slavery in U.K. social care: relaxed visas = rising exploitation

Modern slavery is escalating within the social care sector in the U.K. following the relaxation of immigration rules to address …
solar panels

Uyghur forced labor still not adequately addressed in renewable energy sector

A recently published investor guide and policy brief on green technology supply chains found that more proactive strategies are needed …

Garment industry stitched together by exploitative labor

Major fashion brands, including Barbour and PVH (owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger), are set to pay over £400,000 in …

Forced labor concerns plague U.K.’s seasonal worker scheme

U.N. Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery Tomoya Obokata, recently warned the U.K. government that by failing to investigate …
fast food

Child labor laws dissolving across the US as fast-food child labor violations soar

A comprehensive analysis by The Washington Post has uncovered a troubling surge in child labor violations within the fast-food industry in the …
Afghanistan

Forced marriage in Afghanistan: selling your daughter just to survive

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Heartbreaking stories shared by the Washington Post reveal the devastating impact of forced child marriages on vulnerable Afghan children. …

$200,000 fine for Slaughterhouse found responsible for migrant teen’s death

A Mississippi meat processing plant, Mar-Jac Poultry, was found responsible for the death of a 16-year-old migrant teen worker who …
fair trade

“Fair Trade” labels helping corporations hide exploitation

In the idyllic aisles of U.S. supermarkets, labels like “responsibly grown,” “farmworker-assured,” and “fair-trade certified” adorn fruits and vegetables, masking …

New worker driven scheme takes aim at modern slavery at sea

The U.K. has launched a two-year program to be run by labor rights groups in partnership with the Seafood Ethics …

Big brands implicated in forced labor finds report

Leading fashion brands, including Barbour and PVH (Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger owner), have pledged over $400,000 to compensate garment …

“100% ethical” sourcing commitment by Starbucks focus of new lawsuit

NBC reports that a consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit this week challenging global coffee chain Starbucks’ claims of ethical sourcing …

Child marriage: Washington takes a stand

Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Washington have unanimously passed House Bill 1455, a proposal to ban child marriage on …

China appears to be boasting about having increased Ugyhur forced labor

Despite ongoing concerns about forced labor in the Uyghur Region from human rights advocates, the United Nations, scholars and the …

Lax European laws lead to forced labor at sea “running wild”

A recent report found that European companies, led by Spain, Russia, and the UK, owned almost 23% of the commercial …

Child labor a common blind spot for private auditing firms

In recent years, major U.S. corporations have assured ethical labor practices within their supply chains through private social compliance audits. …

Migrant workers fighting back against racist policies in Canada

Policies from the 1960s still in place today are being challenged in court by seasonal agricultural workers who say the …

60 more lives lost off Libyan coast- EU’s migration policy

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that 60 persons drowned last week attempting the cross the Mediterranean and enter …

Exploitative child labor and denied accountability: a look at 2023

2023 was marked by the alarming resurgence of child labor, signaling a troubling rise of exploitative practices and casting a …

Outlawed marriage practice “ghag” leads to forced marriage and trauma

n northwest Pakistan, many women and girls are forced into marriages based on an outlawed custom named ghag, where a …

Modern slavery is turning into a “feature” of care sector in UK

Restrictions on the free movement of workers around the E.U. have significantly increased the likelihood of exploitation in the U.K., …

Migrants in New York victims of forced labor and sex trafficking

Trigger warning* The Miami Herald reports that the U.S. Federal prosecutors brought charges of forced labor and sex trafficking against a New York …

Alabama’s prison work programs labeled ‘modern day slavery’ and taken to court

This week, current and former prisoners in Alabama filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing that the state’s prison labor …

Forced child marriages deepen Rohingya girls’ suffering

Warning: The original article is upsetting and may trigger some readers. The Malaysian Rohingya Muslim minority group has had to …

Illegal debt bondage infecting India’s labor force

NPR News relays the story of Shanta Bai, a farmworker in rural India, who was locked in a chicken coop for a …

Forced to scam: online scam operations exploiting and entraping thousands

TIME reports on the global cyber scam operation known as “pig butchering” that originated in China six years ago. The scam …

Doubts remain after Volkswagen audit finds “no signs” of forced labor

German human rights due diligence firm Loening Human Rights & Responsible Business GmbH conducted an audit of Volkswagen’s site in …

Child labor found on California poultry farm

According to the World Socialist Web Site, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has fined The Exclusive Poultry Inc., a Californian …

Foster children more vulnerable to trafficking due to gaps in screening process

Amid growing concerns over sex trafficking, a federal audit reveals critical shortcomings in screening protocols for foster children, leaving many …

Without strong legislation forced labor will corrupt E.U. market

A report published on December 6 commissioned by a group of E.U. lawmakers warns that “a substantial volume of apparel tainted by …

The dangers of rolling back child labor protection laws underlined by 16-year-old’s death at sawmill

The Guardian reports that in Wisconsin, a 16-year-old was killed when he was operating a conveyor at a sawmill and got …

Ending child marriage in Malawi by breaking the chains of tradition

In the heart of Malawi, child marriage persists despite its outlawing in 2017. Tamara’s* story, shared by the BBC, unveils the …

Given forced labor evidence, will Shein be allowed on on the U.S. stock exchange?

As Shein confidentially files for a U.S. initial public offering, questions about forced labor in its supply chain resurface, casting …

Modern slavery survivors serving time for crimes they were forced to commit

Survivors of modern slavery are being sent to prison for crimes they were forced to commit instead of being identified …

The dirty secret behind the popular superfood açaí

Açaí has become well known in recent years as a popular superfood, transforming from a little-known berry grown in the …

Long overdue due diligence laws are still missing in New Zealand

According to RNZ, the average household in New Zealand spends $77 per week on products linked to modern slavery. This figure …

Child marriage needs to end say Philanthropist leaders

Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney, and Melinda French Gates recently visited Malawi and South Africa announcing to the BBC their aim to end child …

Seafood purchases of U.S. government violate Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

China’s distant-water fishing fleet, the world’s largest with up to 6,500 ships, operates in murky waters, both literally and figuratively. A four-year …

EV industry’s filthy supply chain needs cleaning up say protesters

The recent opening of the LA Auto Show was disrupted by protesters aiming to shine a light on harmful practices found …

Bill S-21 is almost here, but are Canadian retailers ready?

Bill S-211 is Canada’s new supply chain law, officially known as the “Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in …

U.N. proposal’s reference to forced labor in solar panel supply chain leaves China objecting

Climate Home News reported that a U.N. climate resilience fund proposal was objected to by China due to documents mentioning the …

Japanese companies pledge to keep child labor out of their chocolate

The cultivation of cocoa beans often involves the use of child slavery and child labor. Kyodo news reports two companies in Japan …

Germany’s supply chain legislation under fire

Oxfam, an international aid organization, has made an official complaint to the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export …

Temu shirks responsibility for forced labor in supply chain

Newcomer Temu has been finger pointed as very likely to have Uyghur forced labor in their supply chain, according to El Pais News. In …

Seafood for sale in Ireland pulled from currents of forced labor

A documentary film crew recently investigated modern slavery and human rights abuses reported onboard Chinese fishing vessels. According to The Irish …

Teens call for end to Kentucky prison slavery

A group of teens from Kentucky, U.S. has been sharing an unsettling truth in their home state: the state’s constitution …

U.S. Bishops call for action to safeguard migrant children

U.S. bishops are urging Congress to address the rising threat of human trafficking faced by unaccompanied migrant children within the …

Anti-trafficking legislation language creates “another hoop” for survivors

An anti-human trafficking expert is leveling criticism at proposed legislation by the Irish Government, claiming it lacks protections and forces survivors …

Carbon credit scheme likely linked to Uyghur forced labor

South Pole, the world’s largest carbon consultancy, sells carbon credits for companies seeking to offset their carbon emissions. A recent …

Celebrating the U.K. Supreme Court decision, but what comes next?

On November 15, human rights won when the U.K. Supreme Court ruled the Rwanda plan unlawful, stating that it is …