It is the final day of 16 Days of Freedom. Thank you to everyone who has read and shared every blog with friends, family, or colleagues. Our work couldn’t be done without you, so thank you. Human Rights Day Today is Human Rights Day. It’s celebrated annually on 10 December and is a significant day. This year, though, Human Rights Day is special because it marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document is a landmark and deserves our attention and celebration today. The Declaration enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human be ..read more

For day eleven of our 16 Days of Freedom blogs, another intern, Evan Link, has reflected on his time interning with The Freedom Hub.  By: Evan Link When I came to Australia for my semester abroad, I knew I wanted to complete an internship where I could make a meaningful difference and give back to the country that I was calling home for a few months. Working at a non-profit has allowed me to explore many avenues and fully immerse myself in the fight against modern slavery.  My work with The Freedom Hub Since arriving at the Freedom Hub, I have helped review procurement processes to a ..read more

It is day 15 of our 16 Days of Freedom, which means it’s also day 15 of the UN 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women. It wouldn’t be right to finish this series without discussing the intersectionality between feminism, the fight for women, and the fight against the exploitation of women. Women and girls Across the world, women and girls are disproportionately affected by modern-day slavery, accounting for more than 70% of the estimated 45 million people living in modern slavery. Put another way, one in every 130 women across the world is living in modern slavery. Just so we under ..read more

With just two more days left in our 16 Days of Freedom, I thought it might be a good idea to share with you about The Freedom Hub – what we do, our vision, and how you can be a part of it. The Freedom Hub The Freedom Hub’s vision is to end modern slavery in Australia, help rebuild the lives of survivors, and partner in ending modern slavery around the world. Our founder, Sally Irwin, pioneered a model for social change by building influential “hubs” that fund and impact the issue of slavery in Australia. Each year, as awareness grows, our mission expands. After almost a decade, we are closer t ..read more

Awareness of the prevalence of fast fashion in our shops and stores is increasing, but is that awareness lending itself to actual change? While there are many articles written by our volunteers and staff on fast fashion and modern-day slavery within the fashion industry, I wonder what the impact of those articles has been over the last three years. Today is day 13 of our 16 Days of Freedom campaign. We’re also a week into December 2023. With the holidays just around the corner, it’s important to look at our relationship with the fashion industry as everyday consumers and give ourselves a littl ..read more

For many of us, it’s conceivable that modern-day slavery exists; however, it’s harder to believe that it exists in Australia. The reality for many Australians is freedom – freedom of choice and opportunity. For thousands of others, the reality is very different. Modern slavery in Australia So, what does modern-day slavery look like in Australia, a rich, free, and accessible country? In 2023, there are an estimated 40,000 – 45,000 people working in modern slavery in Australia. This number is up from the 2018 estimates of 15,000. The people exploited in our country are victims behind closed door ..read more

While many of us may appreciate and understand the importance of formal education, we may not fully grasp the impact an education may have on a child at risk of manipulation and exploitation. It’s Day 9 of our 16 Days of Freedom campaign, and today, we will be looking at child labour, a form of modern slavery. More specifically, we will look at how access to education may mean the difference between freedom and a childhood of exploitation. What is child labour? “Child labour” falls under the umbrella term of modern-day slavery. The International Labour Organisation defines it as “work that dep ..read more

*Today’s blog is a survivor story from last year, shared during the 2022 16 Days of Freedom. While it isn’t a “new” story, I hope you’re moved to compassion by reading Clara’s* story. This is the genuine work our Survivor School does, and it’s important to highlight and celebrate the progress made by these strong and courageous women. While many of us wish we could end modern slavery with a snap of our fingers and ‘free’ everyone trapped in those conditions, it may not feel possible. What would that look like? If people are taken out of slavery and left on their own, are they truly free? Or ar ..read more

Partnerships and collaborations within the justice space are paramount for making progress. The third arm of The Freedom Hub’s social purpose is to “partner in the fight to end global slavery.” Partnership is the only way we will end modern slavery in our country. This isn’t a fight or a race we can run alone, without help, insight, and shared resources and passion.   Government Partnering to End Modern Slavery The quest to end modern slavery is a formidable challenge, one that transcends individual efforts and necessitates global collaboration. With an estimated 50 million people in bond ..read more

Today marks the beginning of an annual international UN campaign called 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The campaign begins today, 25 November, and runs until 10 December, on Human Rights Day.   What is the campaign? But first, let’s start at the beginning. In 1991, the campaign was started by a group of activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institution. 16 Days of Activism is an advocacy tool that focuses on communities gathering together for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls because women everywhere deserve to ..read more