“I was incredibly nervous,” says Charlie Blythe. “We had no idea how many people would show up – if any.

“The buzz and anticipation among the team during the setup were indescribable,” Charlie continues. “It felt like we all knew something significant was about to happen, even though we didn’t quite know what that would look like.

“By 10am, people started arriving – not just a few, but hundreds! Before I knew it, the streets were filled with people. I knew, in that moment, that this was the beginning of something truly special” – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Charlie is European Regional Director at A21, a non-profit organisation working to end human trafficking. Here, she’s talking about A21’s Walk For Freedom, which Dororthy Mendez – A21 Reach Coordinator (Education Awareness and Prevention) describes as “a day of global awareness and local action in the fight against human trafficking.

“Individuals worldwide reach their communities through local walk events to raise awareness,” Dorothy explains. “The Walk For Freedom is an outward expression of A21’s inward desire to see every man, woman or child currently experiencing exploitation to live a life of freedom. As a result, we have not only seen an increase in public awareness around the issue of modern slavery, we have seen an increase in reporting and safeguarding. Last year, 811 million people were reached across 57 countries.”

This year is the 10th anniversary of Walk For Freedom – and so, as well as spotlighting this life-changing annual global event, we wanted to continue drawing attention to the (literally) life-changing work that A21 does. Not only is 10 years of bringing people together to walk for the freedom of others a phenomenal achievement; it also continues to be, regrettably, highly necessary.

Human trafficking is a very real – and current – problem

“Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery,” Dorothy explains. “It is the crime of contradiction. Human trafficking is all around us, yet hidden in plain sight.

“Contrary to stereotypes, victims are not always physically restrained or kept in hidden locations,” Dorothy continues. “They could be your neighbour’s domestic worker, a child facing exploitation online, or someone who appears to have found a promising opportunity abroad. It’s a crime that operates subtly and often goes unnoticed in everyday settings.”

At this very minute, there are an estimated 49.6 million people enslaved, which roughly equates to around 6.4 out of every 1,000 people in the world. That’s more than at any other time in history. Slavery happens in every country, and it impacts everyone. 54% of victims are women and girls (54%) while 46% are men and boys (46%); and 1 in 4 victims are children.

Human trafficking is an issue close to our hearts here at Daye. Our Founder and CEO, Valentina, had a close encounter with it when she was a high school student and moved from Bulgaria to Austria to become an au pair.

“I met my host family through a random website, and after only two quick Skype calls, I was on a plane to Salzburg with no contract, no work permit and very little information,” Valentina wrote in a previous article for Vitals. Browsing brochures at the airport while she waited for her new employer to pick her up, Valentina came across a brochure about human trafficking and learned that many girls from Eastern Europe get lured into human and sexual trafficking under the pretence of work abroad schemes. “I still remember the chills I felt when I realised the danger I had put myself in,” Valentina wrote. “Fortunately, my story wasn’t one of sexual trafficking, but my family did refuse to pay the agreed rate and a lot of what was discussed over Skype didn’t end up materialising”. Valentina was exploited. When she decided to leave as a result of this exploitation, she had to hitchhike as she couldn’t afford a taxi.

We care deeply about human trafficking; and that’s where A21 comes in. But how do you even begin? How can anyone look at those stats – 49.6 million people! – and get their head around how to actually start solving this terrifyingly huge problem? 

Well, A21 can; and for them, the solution starts by focusing in on the number one.

What is A21?

“A21 is a global anti-human trafficking organisation dedicated to abolishing slavery everywhere, forever,” says Dorothy. “While it’s estimated there are 50 million people enslaved in the world today, A21 continues to focus on the one — the one man, the one woman, and the one child trapped in slavery.

“A21 has worked to address this issue from a comprehensive and holistic approach: to Reach the vulnerable, Recover the victim, and Restore the survivor,” Dorothy goes on. “Through partnerships and the efforts of supporters all over the globe, A21 truly believes slavery can be prevented, that victims can be identified and assisted, that perpetrators can be brought to justice, and that more survivors can step into a life of independence.”

But Dorothy never imagined A21 would take off in the way it did. “What started with a ‘Missing Persons’ poster in an airport in Greece, where we assisted our very first survivor of human trafficking, has grown into a global movement – something we never imagined when we set out to address this issue in 2008,” Dorothy explains. “At the time, there were few countries with coordinated efforts to combat human trafficking. Today our teams and programmes work to reduce vulnerability, identify victims, and support survivors in over 20 countries across six continents.

“In 2023, we celebrated 15 years since A21’s work began in Greece,” Dorothy explains. “The remarkable progress we made in 2023 is because of everyday people who have come alongside A21 to fight for freedom in your cities, schools, and communities. When we work together, the impact is so much greater. More vulnerable people are being informed and protected. More victims are identified and assisted to safety. More traffickers are being convicted. More survivors are receiving personalised support on their journey to restoration and independence.”

Dorothy points out that, as a result of combined effort and supporters, A21 has:

• Reached billions of people with awareness, prevention and education
• Trained and equipped more than 40,000 professionals 
• Assisted thousands of victims out of exploitation through identifications and referrals
• Seen 229 perpetrators sentenced to, collectively, 384 years in prison and $4.8 million in fines and compensation 
• Provided holistic aftercare to nearly 2,000 survivors of human trafficking
• Launched four human trafficking hotlines, receiving more than 65,000 calls

And speaking of supporters…

Where does the Walk For Freedom fit in?

Let’s take it back to that very first Walk For Freedom in 2014, when Charlie and the team had no idea if anyone would even show up – before hundreds of people started arriving. 

“To us, this was more than just gathering people together; it was about mobilising and equipping them to raise awareness and become part of the solution,” says Charlie. “The sight of so many individuals ready to walk for A21 was overwhelming – [and it] filled me with hope and determination.”

Since that day, A21 has only grown. “What started as a simple, powerful initiative has now expanded to 57 countries and 425 cities worldwide,” Charlie explains. “Last year alone, nearly 60,000 participants took to the streets, united in raising awareness and playing a part in the fight against human trafficking. From Europe to Asia, the USA to South Africa, this movement has touched almost every corner of the globe.”

“Partnership is at the forefront of the mission of Walk For Freedom,” says Dorothy. “Local organisations, businesses, and individuals all across the globe embody a passion for freedom, recognise the importance of local mobilisation, and raise awareness in their communities every October.”

And there are tangible examples of how local mobilisation and increased awareness can lead to real change. “A partner organisation in India held awareness events leading up to Walk For Freedom, where they discussed child marriage,” Dorothy tells us. “As part of a writing exercise, some children wrote about their classmates who were to be married in the community. It was reported to the district administration, and the children were protected.”

That’s not all. “During a Walk For Freedom event in the US, a woman approached participants to tell them about a trafficking situation involving multiple minors close to where the walk took place,” Dorothy continues. “Our Walk Hosts gave the woman the hotline number and followed up to ensure the kids were safely assisted to freedom.”

Walk For Freedom 2024

This year – Walk For Freedom’s 10th anniversary – is a big one. “This time of year is always incredibly exciting for our team as we unite across the globe for a single purpose,” says Dorothy. “It’s deeply impactful to witness people of all ages and backgrounds coming together, standing up for justice, and supporting the most vulnerable in our society. This year, we anticipate an even greater turnout and are thrilled to host some of our frontline partners on the day.”

Walk For Freedom is a clear example in how anyone really, truly can make a difference. “There is something profoundly powerful about everyday people using their voices and taking time to contribute to a mission of awareness that leads to action,” Dorothy goes on. “Each person walking is not only raising awareness about human trafficking but also actively helping to protect vulnerable individuals and inspire change at the local level. This collective movement serves as a strong reminder that real change is possible when people come together for a common cause.”

Dorothy’s final words to us are that “Together, we’re taking ground against slavery, one step at a time.” And if there was ever a line to end on, that would be it.