About ATEST
An anti-trafficking mural in Sierra Leone.
The Alliance to End Slavery & Trafficking (ATEST) is dedicated to ending modern-day slavery and human trafficking around the world. Modern-day slavery manifests itself in many forms—from forced labor to sex trafficking—but each is alike in posing a severe threat to basic human rights. The fact that the enslavement and trade in human beings exists in our modern world as a disturbingly large, highly profitable illicit industry is unacceptable. Legal nowhere and present in every country across the globe, slavery damages our communities, taints the products and services we consume, tarnishes the profits we earn, and is one of the most pressing human rights challenges of our time.
But this persistent crime can be stopped.
ATEST believes lasting solutions to end modern-day slavery and human trafficking require coordinated actions and respectful partnerships between civil society, governments, and businesses. By collaborating with each other, peers in the movement, survivors of slavery and trafficking, policymakers, like-minded activists, and business and thought leaders, we seek opportunities to create positive and enduring change—including building the fundamental legal, corporate, and cultural standards that will end modern-day slavery and human trafficking in all of its forms.
Humanity United, a foundation dedicated to building peace and advancing human freedom, founded ATEST in 2007, initially as a pilot project to strengthen U.S. laws and increase federal resources dedicated to anti-trafficking efforts. ATEST formalized its alliance in 2009 with a broadened mission, and has expanded to include 12 organizations with one individual member.
Photo by Guilad Kahn/WpN.
About Slavery & Trafficking
In the 21st century, slavery is found in many forms.
In South Asia, entire families are bound to work off debts—many of which began with just a few dollars and are generations old—to their slave masters with little hope of repayment or freedom. In West Africa, children work in horrific conditions on the plantations that supply our chocolate, fish, and even car tires. In Eastern Europe, women are trafficked from their hometowns in search of legitimate work only to be forced into prostitution abroad. In the United States, agricultural workers are held captive on the nation’s fields to harvest the very produce that nourishes our families. These and other forms of modern slavery are each different, yet all are alike in the use of violence, coercion, threats, deception, or other methods to control both adults and children for labor or commercial sexual exploitation.
Together, we can end these injustices once and for all. Communities, governments, and businesses are essential in the fight against slavery and trafficking. All of us can take meaningful action to help end slavery and trafficking. Find out what you can do to take action.
Latest News & Updates
- CQ Weekly Reports on Stalled Reauthorization of Federal Anti-trafficking Legislation
- The New York Times Addresses Need for a Reauthorized Federal Law on Anti-Trafficking
- MOCs Lead "Dear Colleague" Effort in Support of FY13 Federal Funding for Anti-Trafficking Programs
- Advocacy Community Aligns to Advance FY13 Federal Funding for Anti-Trafficking Programs
- President Declares Slavery an Affront to our Human Dignity
Take Action
Slavery still exists. Tens of millions of people are enslaved around the world in debt bondage, forced labor, child labor, sex trafficking, and other modern manifestations of this ancient scourge.
Take Action.
