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History of State-Imposed Forced Labor in Uzbekistan's Cotton Industry

Uzbekistan is currently the world’s sixth-largest cotton producer and fifth-largest cotton exporter. Supplies of Uzbek cotton are used to produce garments around the world, and reports of abuses in these cotton fields have sparked a protest against s

Run / Walk / Bike / Climb for Freedom

With the 5K about to begin, the highest fundraiser that day stepped behind the starting line and prepared to run. On her prosthetic leg, she’d placed a bright pink strip of duct tape bearing the name of a woman still trapped in slavery. Growing up in

How It’s Made: Child Labor, Bonded Labor Brewing Your Cup of Coffee

If you spend $3.00 at a coffee shop every work day, you’d be paying over $700.00 a year for coffee alone. That might be a steep price to pay for your daily dose of caffeine, but is it worth it? More importantly, does the price accurately reflect the

History of Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in Thailand

Prostitution and sex trafficking in Thailand are highly visible and strongly discussed topics in the contemporary antislavery field. Social attitudes, political interventions and economic realities have shaped the conditions that allow the two practi

Pimping v. Trafficking - Consequences for Victims

In December of 2014, we had the privilege of visiting and aftercare shelter called Open Door Foundation. Mirela is a lawyer for the foundation and is working on a variety of cases at all times. While talking about the inner workings of a trafficking

Historians Against Slavery Conference Recap

Last week, Historians Against Slavery hosted “Using History to Make Slavery History” at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Over the course of three days, panelists and participants discussed topics ranging from activism to business sol

Forced Labor in Nursing Homes

By 2018, Taiwan will be an ‘aged society,’ meaning that at least 14% of its population will be 65 years old or older. By 2025, Taiwan’s National Development Council predicts that at least 20% of the population will be older than 65. The rising popula

Challenges of Running an Aftercare Shelter

In 2014 we visited the Open Door Foundation, the only aftercare emergency shelter for female sex trafficking victims in Romania. Its founder, Monica Boseff, was named a Trafficking in Persons Report Hero and invited us to visit her shelter in Buchare

How It's Made: Slavery Swept Under the Rug

What's the difference between a product made by child labor and one made by a fairly paid adult? In the How It's Made series, we'll explore the conditions that slave-made goods are produced in and compare that to slavery-free operations. This week, t

How to Start a Freedom Business

Nicole is the founder of Polished Pearl, a luxury lifestyle brand whose profits go to the needs of vulnerable children. Their products are made in two different countries where they are trying to fight trafficking through employment. This style of bu