anti-slavery AN ARTICLE

“I hope my case inspires you to know that you’ve made a difference. The work of anti-slavery activists such as yourself is vitally important. Thank you again for your efforts to ensure my safe release. Keep doing what you do in the fight for freedom.” Dear MARK, These are the words of Krishna Upadhyaya, an anti-slavery researcher who was detained in Qatar while interviewing migrant workers experiencing conditions of modern slavery. After 54,034 messages from the Walk Free community he was released without charge and returned home safely to his family. As 2015 begins, we’ve been reflecting on what our community and our partners have achieved in the last 12 months. You helped to win over a dozen anti-slavery campaigns last year. Together we’ve: Fought for stronger anti-slavery laws, including securing a new ground-breaking international protocol on forced labour.1 Held businesses to account: we persuaded Walmart and Tesco, two of the biggest food retailers in the world, to play a role in ending modern slavery in the Thai fishing industry.2 Defended the rights of anti-slavery activists, by fighting for the release of Krishna Upadhyaya and Gundev Ghimire when they disappeared while investigating working conditions in Qatar.3 Thank you for your incredible support -- we never cease to be amazed and inspired by your dedication. We want to make 2015 even more successful as we fight to end modern slavery -- will you help us? Click to donate your time and expertise to help end modern slavery. We believe every member of the Walk Free community has something unique and valuable to contribute to the movement to end slavery once and for all. As the new year begins, please consider becoming a Walk Free Freedom Leader -- you can find out more here. Thank you for everything you do, The whole Walk Free team P.S. Click here to see what else you achieved in 2014. 1 http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/media-centre/press-releases/WCMS_246549/lang--en/index.htm 2 http://www.walkfree.org/thai-slavery/ 3 http://gnrd.net/seemore.php?id=938 Walk Free is a movement of people everywhere, fighting to end one of the world's greatest evils: Modern slavery.