Around the world, millions remain trapped in modern slavery, but the work of dedicated activists, storytellers, and changemakers inspires hope and drives change.
At Freedom United, we believe that lasting change begins with collective action.
The For Freedom Awards celebrate modern abolitionists making a difference—individuals and organizations whose efforts have mobilized communities, raised awareness, and driven systemic change to help end modern slavery.
Digital Activist of the Year
Recognizing individuals who have harnessed online platforms to take dedicated action toward ending modern slavery.
Freedom United is proud to award the Digital Activist of the Year Award to Shahin and Jahangir Gavanji for their 100 Women and 100 Dreams Project which amplifies the voices of 100 women who were married as children, shedding light on the global crisis of forced child marriage.
Runner up
Tony Dunkerley
Campaign of the Year
Celebrating a campaign that has secured significant changes for a world more resilient to modern slavery.
Freedom United is proud to award the Campaign of the Year Award to Anti-Slavery International, who successfully championed the passage of the E.U. Forced Labour Regulation—a groundbreaking law that bans the import of goods made with forced labor into the E.U.
Runner up
Unchained at Last
Storytelling for Freedom
Honoring an individual or organization whose impactful stories, art, or media have raised critical awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Freedom United is proud to award the Storytelling for Freedom Award to Mech Dara, a fearless Cambodian journalist who has bravely exposed human trafficking and cyber scam rings, despite facing arrest and the shutdown of his affiliated publications.
Runner up
Lisa Kristine
Rising Changemaker
Honoring the young leaders who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the anti-slavery movement.
Freedom United is proud to award the Rising Changemaker Award to the Uyghur Youth Initiative, a youth-driven nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of Uyghur forced labor and amplifying Uyghur voices in the fight for justice and accountability.
Runners up
Maisie Bruner and Kaixuan Guo
Help us continue raising awareness of the realities of modern slavery.
2023 For Freedom Awards Winners
Freedom United was proud to award the Campaigner of the Year Award to Jewher Ilham for her unceasing activism to end Uyghur forced labor in China, the Digital Activist Award to Ishaan Shah for being the most active digital campaigner in the Freedom United community in 2023, the Impact Award to Campaign for Uyghurs for their unceasing work advocating for an end to Uyghur forced labor and the Spotlight Award to Footprint to Freedom!
For Freedom Campaigner of the Year
Jewher Ilham
For Freedom Digital Activist Winner
Ishaan Shah
For Freedom Impact Winner
Campaign for Uyghurs
For Freedom Spotlight Winner
Footprint to Freedom
