Buy a Freedom Package this Christmas and help someone like Hadijatou escape slavery for good.
Hadijatou was born into slavery, like her mother before her. From the first moment of life, she was someone’s property. At 12, she was sold to a 46-year-old man who forced her to work and subjected her to regular beatings and sexual violence. She bravely escaped, but her master came after her.
In Niger, where Hadijatou lives, slavery was officially banned in 2003, but sadly the practice endures. Those who flee have no official documents, no connections and no resources to hold their masters to account. Without support at this crucial time, the heartbreaking reality is that many are forced to return to the situation they risked their lives to flee.
Hadijatou’s master tried to force her to return by claiming she was his ‘wife’. Hadijatou had to fight her case, in court, to remain away from him – something she wouldn’t have been able to do without legal support. Thankfully, the court found that no marriage had taken place, and Hadijatou believed she was finally free to live her life. Then her former master appealed the decision. And shockingly, he won.
Hadijatou was determined to keep fighting for her freedom, with the support of people like you on her side. She finally brought a case against the state of Niger. In a ground-breaking judgement, Niger was found to be in breach of its own laws – and Hadijatou was finally free.
This Christmas, you can help someone through every step of their journey to freedom. Your donation will be matched pound for pound.
How your Christmas gift helps to bring freedom:
£15 could help provide safe and secure refuge for women and girls who’ve escaped their master – ensuring they’re not forced back into slavery.
£20 could help fund the lawyers to ensure those fleeing slavery are protected from their former masters – and help to prosecute slave owners.
£30 could help someone to begin education and training to move on from the trauma they endured, learn their self-worth, and build a life of freedom.
How will you use my gift to fight modern slavery?
If we reach our target, together we’re going to:
- Fight for a Business and Human Rights law in the UK that stops businesses profiting from slavery and environmental destruction
- We will fight for new laws in the EU that make sure European countries cooperate to protect people
- Help victims and survivors of slavery to rebuild their lives and know their rights
- Hold political parties to account in the run up to the General Election so that human rights can’t be forgotten
- We’ll train and empower groups of activists across the world to campaign against slavery
- We will research into climate change to show how it threatens our human rights and work side by side with climate change campaigners
- We will use media and social media to catch the eyes of politicians putting together manifestos, making sure they remember how many people are still suffering because of slavery
Why do we need your urgent support this Christmas?
As we approach a General Election, we need 2024 to be an even bigger year for Anti-Slavery International. We are planning some of our most ambitious projects yet. But with rising prices due to the cost of living crisis, it won’t be easy to achieve, and we need support.
Thankfully, a generous individual is doubling donations for a limited period of time, meaning we are closer than ever to getting the campaign funds we need for 2024.
How much do you need to raise this Christmas?
Together, we need to raise £48,000 to make sure we can put human rights and modern slavery on the agenda of politicians in the UK and across the world in 2024. Can you donate to our people-powered plan to fight slavery in the UK and across the world?
A generous person has agreed to match every donation to help us reach our target. If you give now, your donation will go twice as far.
About Anti-Slavery International
Founded in 1839, we are the world's oldest international anti-slavery and anti-trafficking charity.
Our mission is to stop slavery. But we can't do it without generous people like you.
Our fundraising promise to you
We’ll use your donations in the best way possible to make change happen.
For every £1 you give, 83p is spent on supporting our partners to help free and empower people trapped in modern slavery and trafficking around the world.#
17p is spent on fundraising to generate future income and ensure your donation is still changing lives tomorrow.#
#as of 22/23 Anti-Slavery International annual report.
*name and image changed to protect her identity