Walk Free

Walk Free is an international human rights group based in Perth, Western Australia. Its goal is to end modern slavery around the world.

The group was started by Grace Forrest in 2011. Walk Free is best known for publishing the Global Slavery Index. This report helps people understand how many individuals are still affected by modern slavery in different countries.

In 2013, Walk Free joined with others to create the Freedom Fund. This teamwork helps support efforts to protect people and give them freedom.

Background

The United Nations made a plan in 2015 called Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7. This plan asks everyone to work together to stop modern slavery. Walk Free helps with this plan. They gather information to guide actions and support new laws. They work with many groups, such as faith leaders, businesses, schools, charities, and governments. By working together and including local communities, Walk Free hopes to end modern slavery.

Global estimates of modern slavery

In 2017, the International Labour Organization, Walk Free, and the International Organization for Migration worked together to make the first Global Estimates of Modern Slavery. They used information from surveys in 48 countries through the Gallup World Poll and data from the Global Slavery Index Vulnerability Model.

They made their methods better to fix problems from earlier reports. They used three main sources of information: surveys with over 71,000 people from 48 countries, data from the International Organization for Migration about people helped after being trafficked, and information from international groups that watch over laws about forced work.

Global Slavery Index

Main article: Global Slavery Index

The Global Slavery Index shows how many people in different countries might be affected by unfair treatment and forced work. It looks at 160 countries and shares what is known about these issues.

Walk Free first shared this index in 2013, and it has been updated several times since then. The index checks three main things: how many people are affected, how well governments are working to stop these problems, and what makes some places more likely to have these issues.