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| Question: |
How long has Anti-Slavery International been
working? |
| Answer: |
Anti-Slavery International is the world's oldest
international human rights organisation. Its roots stretch back
to 1787 when the first abolitionist society was formed. A new
organisation, the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society,
formed on 17 April 1839, declaring its commitment to abolishing
slavery throughout the world. This organisation continues today
under the name Anti-Slavery International. |
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| Q: |
What does Anti-Slavery International do? |
| A: |
Anti-Slavery International is the only charity
in the United Kingdom working exclusively against slavery and
related abuses, and is the leading organisation in this field.
With your help we work at local, national and international
levels to eliminate the systems of slavery around the world.
By working with local partners we investigate and report on
slavery and promote action to eliminate this abuse. |
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| Q: |
Isn't slavery a thing of the past? |
| A: |
Today, millions of men, women and children around the world
are forced to live in slavery. People are forced to work through
the threat or use of violence, they are bought and sold like
objects, work for long hours often for little or no pay and
are at the mercy of their employers. A key difference between
slavery today and that in the past is that now, thanks to
the struggle of abolitionists in the late-18th and early 19th
centuries, slavery is illegal in every country.
But it has not been eliminated because these laws are not
enforced. Even in Europe and North America, where slavery
appeared to have been consigned to history, it has returned
in the form of human trafficking and forced labour.
A slave is:
- Forced to work -- through mental or physical threat.
- Owned or controlled by an 'employer', usually through
mental or physical abuse or threatened abuse.
- Dehumanised, treated as a commodity or bought and sold
as 'property'.
- Physically constrained or has restrictions placed on his/her
freedom of movement.
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| Q: |
What types of slavery still exist / do you work on?
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| A: |
Slavery takes many forms and affects people of
all ages, sex and race. It is: bonded and forced labour, descent
based slavery, early and forced marriage, worst forms of child
labour and trafficking of people into forced labour. Anti-Slavery
International works on all of these issues. |
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| Q: |
Which countries do you work in? |
| A: |
Anti-Slavery International works throughout the
world through local partners -- wherever slavery is found, we
can make a difference. This particularly includes countries
in Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Latin America, Europe and
the Gulf. The largest numbers of people in slavery live in the
poorest countries of the world. |
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| Q: |
Do you have offices overseas? |
| A: |
No, we always seek partnerships with local organisations.
This is critical to understanding the local situation and the
specific approaches necessary to achieving sustainable change
for the victims of slavery. |
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| Q: |
How many slaves are there in the world? |
| A: |
Millions of people live in slavery around the
world. The International Labour Organization estimates at least
12 million people are in forced labour around the world; more
than six million of whom are children. Slavery exists on every
continent of the world and affects most countries. |
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| Q: |
If we stop children working won't they and
their families starve? |
| A: |
There is a difference between work that contributes to a
child and their family's life and slavery. Some types of work
make useful, positive contributions to a child's development.
Often, work is a vital source of income that helps to sustain
children and their families.
But with slavery, the child is denied their right to education,
rest and recreation. They are subjected to extremely hazardous
work in harmful conditions, putting their health, personal
and social development, and even their lives, at risk. Many
are forced into full-time work at a very early age. They are
frequently made to work long hours for little or no pay. Many
are subjected to verbal, physical, psychological and sexual
abuse. A child in slavery is kept in the cycle of poverty.
We work with local partners to ensure that there is rehabilitation
and training so that children and their families can have
an income and a life with opportunities.
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| Q: |
How is Anti-Slavery International funded? |
| A: |
We are dependant on support from individuals'
donations, income from events and legacies. The remainder is
made up of project grants from trusts, foundations and government
departments. |
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| Q: |
Do you fund redemption fees or clear bonded
labourers' debts? |
| A: |
From time to time people contact Anti-Slavery
International and offer to pay for the release of individuals
or the eradication of their debts.
With millions of people enslaved around the world we need
your help to tackle the structures that support the practice
of slavery and bring the entire system of slavery to an end.
Anti-Slavery International does not pay individuals to secure
the release of slaves because of the danger of perpetuating
the cycle of slavery. Slave masters have been know to buy
more slaves with their redemption money, and released bonded
labourers can find them themselves destitute and are likely
to be re-bonded if the system is not tackled and rehabilitation
programmes for those freed are not in place.
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| Q: |
Do you have a newsletter? |
| A: |
Yes, the Reporter
is published four times a year. Regular donors and members can
chose to receive the Reporter to keep informed of the
latest issues of slavery around the world, including in-depth
features and new developments in the fight to end slavery. |
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Supporting Anti-Slavery International |
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| Q: |
Can I become a member? |
| A: |
Many of our members choose to make a monthly gift
of £10, £5 or £3 by Direct Debit, it's the
most efficient way to support our work and keep your membership
up to date. Monthly support by Direct Debit certainly reduces
our admin costs, but the real benefit is a human one; it means
we can put your donation to work straight away where it is needed
most.
Please complete a Direct
Debit instruction on-line or call us on 020 7501 8920
if you would prefer to set up your Direct Debit over the phone.
As a member you have the right to vote at our Annual General
Meeting regarding the governance of the organisation and to
receive the Reporter, our quarterly publication. Please
also consider joining
our Campaigns Network and become part of a community of
activists fighting to bring an end to slavery now.
Suggested minimum donations for membership:
- We suggest a minimum gift of £2 per month or £25
per year;
- £8 per year concessions (UK only): students / benefits
recipients / retired;
- Life membership is £375, which you can also give
as a gift to a loved one.
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| Q: |
What can my money actually do? |
| A: |
- £5 could pay for
a former bonded labourer to travel to a neighbouring
area to find paid work, escaping harassment from his former
master;
- £10 could pay
for 50 action briefings asking campaigners
to write letters to a government demanding a person be freed
from slavery;
- £20 could pay
for 1,250 leaflets to be printed locally
and distributed in West African villages to raise awareness
of the dangers of traffickers in vulnerable communities;
- £45 could pay for
one day of running an overseas partner's shelter for escaped
or freed slaves, helping them start a new life;
- £50 could provide emergency funds
to support a child fleeing abuses as a domestic worker;
- £100 could pay
for a day's training for one of our overseas
partners on how to use the international human rights system
and international campaigning methods;
- £250 could pay
for the preparation of evidence on slavery
to submit to the United Nations;
- £1,000 could pay
for a partner in East Africa to educate
and counsel seven former child domestic workers so they
can make a fresh start;
- £5,000 could pay
for two workshops to help local partner
organisations understand better how to protect children
from the worst forms of child labour.
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| Q: |
How much is spent on administration and fundraising?
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| A: |
Over 80 per cent of our expenditure goes directly
to projects and campaigns. Only 13 per cent is spent on fundraising
and events, and just 6 per cent on management and administration
(2004-2005 accounts). |
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| Q: |
Why should I support Anti-Slavery International
using a Direct
Debit? |
| A: |
A Direct Debit provides:
- Predictable income means we can better plan and budget
-- making us more efficient.
- You're protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee and can
stop or change your gift at anytime.
- 'Anti-Slavery International' will appear next to your
payments on your bank statement so you'll know we have received
your gift and are putting it to good use.
- Lower bank charges and less admin costs mean that more
of your money goes straight towards our work.
- We particularly suggest monthly as opposed to annual gifts
as most supporters find monthly gifts easier to budget for
(but of course we are delighted to receive an annual gift
if it's easier for you).
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| Q: |
Can Anti-Slavery International claim tax relief
on my donations? |
| A: |
Yes, if you are a UK tax payer Anti-Slavery international
can claim tax relief on any donation that you make, or if you
would like further details please request for them to be posted
to you and you may sign and return a declaration through the
post.
If you are making large donation from the USA, please contact
us at r.dasani@antislavery.org
before you do so and we can make arrangements for you to make
your tax gift effectively.
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| Q: |
Are there additional ways to help? |
| A: |
You can join Anti-Slavery International International's Campaigns
Network and become part of a community of activists fighting
to bring an end to slavery.
Thousands of people are already part of the network, helping
to make a difference. Anti-Slavery International's experience
shows that your emails and letters do help pressure governments
into taking action to stop slavery in their countries. They
also offer support to local organisations in their struggle
to protect individuals' basic human rights.
Anti-Slavery International has developed an events pack for
supporters and members who want to organise their own fundraising
or campaigning events. Fundraising
for Freedom is packed with useful tips and information,
including how we can help make your event a success.
You can download
the events pack as a PDF or Jenny Knight on 020 7501 8942
or email j.knight@antislavery.org
if you would like to be sent a copy in the post.
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| Q: |
How can I volunteer for Anti-Slavery International? |
| A: |
Without support from volunteers, Anti-Slavery
International would not be able to achieve all that it does.
There are volunteer opportunities in the Communications, Programme
and Fundraising Teams. The minimum commitment is three months
-- but that could be for just one afternoon a week. If you are
interested in a volunteer placement or internship please contact:
Mariela González
Anti-Slavery International
Thomas Clarkson House
The Stableyard
Broomgrove Road
London
SW9 9TL
Tel: 020 7501 8920
Email: m.gonzalez@antislavery.org
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| Q: |
Can my organisation affiliate / join Anti-Slavery
International? |
| A: |
Larger organisations can join for £300 per
annum and receive multiple copies of our quarterly magazine
Reporter.
Smaller organisations and local groups can join for the same
minimum donation as individuals.
Contact Jenny Knight on j.knight@antislavery.org
or telephone 020 7501 8942 for more details.
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