FCC Online Talk with Matt Friedman on Fighting Modern-Day Slavery in Asia and My Freedom Day

Modern-day slavery is very real and it’s immense. According to the Global Slavery Index, 25 million women, men and children are enslaved in the Asia-Pacific region. Across the continent, girls are being sold as brides. Children are trapped in bonded labor. Domestic workers are toiling in slave-like conditions. For over a decade, CNN has been shining a light on modern-day slavery to expose the criminal enterprises trading in human life and to amplify the voices of survivors. My Freedom Day, on March 16, is an annual student-led day of action to fight human trafficking. To mark the day this year, Mekong Club CEO Friedman hosted a virtual sweatshop to put students into the shoes of the illegally enslaved. In this special FCC Zoom Webinar, CNN Anchor/Correspondent Kristie Lu Stout talks with Friedman about efforts to expose the criminal enterprises trading in human life and what’s needed to ultimately end modern-day slavery.

00:00 introduction
03:00 Refugees at risk
04:48 Crisis in Ukraine
08:35 Covid impact
11:40 Migrant workers in Hong Kong
14:15 Modern-day slavery in factories
16:30 FCC's support to HELP
21:25 Consumer awareness
24:25 Slave-free label
31:10 NGO involvement
32:00 Private sectors involvement
39:50 Progress in Asia
45:00 CNN My Freedom Day
50:50 Legal support for trafficking victims
55:27 Matt's new book
56:00 A long road to justice