Tech giant Google announced Wednesday it is donating $11.5 million U.S. to several coalitions fighting to end the modern-day slavery of some 27 million people around the world.
In what is believed to be the largest-ever corporate grant devoted to the advocacy, intervention and rescue of people being held, forced to work or provide sex against their will, Google said it chose organizations with proven records in combating slavery.
The Washington-based International Justice Mission, a human rights organization that works globally to rescue victims of slavery and sexual exploitation, was chosen by Google to lead the efforts.
It will partner with Polaris Project and Slavery Footprint and a handful of smaller organizations for the multi-year effort to rescue the enslaved, push for better infrastructure and resources for anti-slavery enforcement agencies overseas, as well as raise awareness here in the United States and help countries draft anti-slavery legislation.
Gary A. Haugen, president of the International Justice Mission, said the coalition would focus on three initiatives: A $3.5-million U.S. intervention project to fight forced labour in India; a $4.5-million U.S. advocacy campaign in India to educate and protect the vulnerable; and a $1.8-million U.S. plan to mobilize Americans on behalf of the millions currently at risk of slavery or waiting for rescue around the world.
The remaining $1.7 million U.S. will go to several smaller organizations working to combat slavery.
Those leading the U.S. efforts will meet in Washington on Wednesday to kick off the joint initiative. The project will focus on improved legislation to protect vulnerable children and adults in the United States, as well as a push for more accountability and transparency in the U.S. supply chain by retailers and manufacturers to make sure their products are "slave-free."
The trafficking of women for the sex trade is common in big American cities. Some illegal immigrants find themselves forced to work in sweatshops, in private homes as domestic servants or on farms without pay under the threat of deportation.
The new effort will launch new initiatives that ordinary Americans can take to help abolish modern-day slavery, such as understanding how their own clothing or smartphones might contain fabrics or components manufactured by forced labor.
Google.org -- the philanthropy arm of the Silicon Valley firm -- announced the anti-slavery effort as part of its $40 million U.S. in end-of-year giving that brings its charitable donations to more than $100 million U.S. in 2011. The grants will also support science, technology, engineering and math education; girls' education in the developing world; and the use of technology for social good.
Tech Insider
