This story was written by the ILO Newsroom For official ILO statements and speeches, please visit our “Statements and Speeches” section.

50 for freedom campaign

Stars sign up to end modern slavery

Robin Wright, David Oyelowo and Wagner Moura give voice to victims of modern slavery, as the International Labour Organization launches its 50 for Freedom campaign.

Press release | 20 October 2015
David Oyelowo, Robin Wright and Wagner Moura
GENEVA - Actors Robin Wright, David Oyelowo and the ILO’s Goodwill Ambassador, Wagner Moura, are lending their support to a global campaign to end modern slavery that is being launched by the International Labour Organization on 20 October.

They have voiced the real-life stories of people trapped in modern slavery, as part of the 50 for Freedom campaign to persuade countries to ratify a new international treaty to eliminate contemporary forms of slavery for good – the Forced Labour Protocol.

There are 21 million modern-day slaves in the world today, with the majority being women and girls, according to the latest ILO figures. They work in mines, fields and factories, in homes and on the street. This criminal industry generates an estimated 150 billion dollars in profits every year.

The public can participate in the campaign by signing up to a new online platform where they can find out about slavery in today’s world and urge countries to ratify the new treaty to end it.

“It is unacceptable in our modern society that people are working in degrading conditions and are enslaved,” said ILO Goodwill Ambassador and Narcos star Wagner Moura. "Slavery exists today all over the world and we need to shine a bright light on it and expose it for what it is. Join me in supporting the ILO's 50 For Freedom campaign today."

The videos made by Wright, Oyelowo and Moura, tell the stories of victims in Eastern Europe, Africa and Brazil. They will be released on news sites and on social media.

Award- winning photographer, Lisa Kristine is also supporting the campaign with her photos, which feature on the campaign website.

The 50 for Freedom campaign aims to persuade at least 50 countries to ratify the Forced Labour Protocol by 2018.