WE ARE A MODERN ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT

Volkswagen has announced the sale of its manufacturing site in the Uyghur Region, along with two test tracks in the region, citing “economic reasons” and strategic realignment. This move comes amid growing scrutiny of corporate involvement in regions linked to forced labor and human rights abuses. Freedom United has been at the forefront of this issue, launching a campaign urging car manufacturers, including Volkswagen, to commit to ethical supply chains and cut ties with forced labor in Uyghur Region. We also protested in Berlin during their AGM this year and handed in our petition with tens of thousands of signatures to the company. Advocacy efforts like this have been instrumental in increasing the pressure on corporations to align their practices with human rights standards. While Volkswagen has not explicitly linked its decision to human rights concerns, the sale signals a shift in how economic and ethical considerations are shaping corporate strategies. This outcome highlights the power of collective action, demonstrating that when communities unite to demand accountability, companies take notice.

In 2024, we have had success in pushing back against harmful child labor law rollbacks, achieving significant victories in strengthening protections. Contrary to alarming trends of weakening child labor safeguards, the majority of state legislative actions this year focused on bolstering protections for young workers. Our advocacy leveraged growing awareness of exploitative practices to counter proposals that would have endangered children by exposing them to hazardous conditions.  States like New Jersey, Maine, Minnesota, and Michigan passed laws enhancing protections for young workers. These measures include tightening restrictions on work hours for minors, improving safety standards in workplaces, and addressing loopholes that had previously allowed employers to exploit young employees. Such legislative efforts reflect the growing acknowledgment of the need to modernize child labor laws to address contemporary challenges, including increasing reports of violations.¹  Despite these victories, the push to weaken child labor laws continues in other states. Notably, Iowa and Arkansas implemented laws that expand the types of work minors can perform and relax restrictions on hours, including hazardous roles. These rollbacks signal a troubling trend, with proponents arguing they address workforce shortages—a rationale criticized for exposing minors to exploitation.  Freedom United is committed to maintaining momentum by pushing for stronger federal regulations to close gaps exploited by unethical employers. This year’s achievements underscore the importance of persistent advocacy in combating legislative efforts that jeopardize young workers.  

Nevada just made history! The state's voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to ban slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments. This groundbreaking decision is a huge victory for incarcerated people and human rights advocates, as it sends a powerful message that forced labor within prisons will no longer be tolerated. Nevada's achievement reflects a growing national movement to end the practice of forced prison labor, and serves as an inspiration for other states to follow suit. Fifteen states still permit slavery. This momentum must carry forward as we push for similar change across the country.

Great news! Virginia has taken a huge step forward by passing legislation to ban child marriage without any exceptions. Virginia is the first Southern state and the 12th American state to raise the minimum legal age for marriage to 18. Virginia once led the nation by restricting marriage to legal adults in 2016. However, through a complex legal procedure, 16- and 17-year-olds were still able to obtain approval to marry. In April 2024, HB 994 was signed into law, making it the twelfth state to ban child marriages. Thanks to everyone who signs and shares our petition calling on  U.S. lawmakers to support bills that would end child marriage without exception. In the United States, there is no federal law that specifically governs child marriage, leaving the regulation of this issue to individual states. Consequently, the laws surrounding child marriage vary widely from one state to another. Twelve states down, 38 to go! We won't stop until all states in the U.S. outlaw child marriage.

Victory! Governor Chris Sununu signs legislation to prohibit child marriage without exceptions! Thanks to the hard work of our community who signed and shared our petition widely, we were able to make our voices heard. New Hampshire is the 13th state to end child marriage - so there are 37 to go. Current laws allow children to enter into marriage, even though it creates a nightmarish legal trap for minors, given their limited legal rights. Further, underage marriage is a human rights abuse that destroys American girls’ health, education, economic opportunities, and quality of life. Advocates warn that the current patchwork of state laws makes it easy for those who seek a child marriage to simply travel to another state, then return home where more than likely their marriage will be recognized. The fight to end child marriage in the US will continue until it is outlawed nationwide, no exceptions.