For the seventh consecutive year, the END IT Movement, a coalition of the world’s leading organizations in the fight for freedom, brought together celebrities, athletes, and Freedom Fighters alike for its annual ‘Shine A Light On Slavery’ Day on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. On this day, Freedom Fighters across the globe are empowered to raise their voice and advocate for change in a world where slavery still exists. END IT is issuing a call to action today by encouraging people to draw a red “X” on their hand and post to social media using #ENDITMOVEMENT to shine a light on the real-life issue of slavery and share this symbol virally.
With an estimated 40.31 million men, women and children trapped in various forms of slavery around the world, including the U.S. (bonded labor, forced labor and sex trafficking), there are more slaves in the world today than at any other time in history.2 END IT Movement and its 16 non-profit Coalition Partners are working together to expose the truth behind a reality that most don’t realize still exists. The END IT Movement recognizes slavery as one person completely controlling another person, using violence or the threat of violence to maintain that control. Human-trafficking, the modern-day slave trade, refers to the illegal trade of human beings through abduction, the use of threat or force, deception, fraud, or ‘sale’ for the purposes of sexual exploitation or forced labor.
“The END IT Movement has built a global network of Freedom Fighters from all walks of life who are inspiring people to raise their voices and advocate for action in the fight against slavery,” said Jenni Brown, END IT Movement Campaign Director. “With the momentum we’ve garnered year after year, we continue to see awareness of these inhumane crimes grow. This awareness leads to action where we continue to witness laws changing, bills being passed, and more resources becoming available to not only shine a light on slavery, but also put an end to it.”
‘Shine a Light on Slavery’ Day has historically elicited a viral response across social media platforms, led by some of the most well-known and respected public figures in the world drawing red X’s on their hands. Because of the efforts and voices of celebrities, athletes, and politicians amplifying the message through their social media channels, #ENDITMOVEMENT habitually turns out to be a top-trending topic across popular social platforms. Just last year, the 2018 movement generated an unprecedented 187 million social media impressions capping off an immensely successful one-day campaign.
