British man escapes modern slavery at London food court

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October 4th, 2026 News Digest OUR CAMPAIGN ISSUES IN THE NEWS Forced labor British man escapes modern slavery at London food court A British man was forced to work unpaid in a London food court after a friend lured him with a fake job offer, then beat him, and trapped him in modern slavery. His case is one of 23,411 modern slavery referrals in the UK in 2025— British nationals were the largest group. Show more... Take action Child labor violations Children are dying at work in the US—and key evidence is missing An average of 24 children died at work in the US every year between 2013 and 2023. For more than half those deaths, key data on cause and industry is missing. Child labor violations have surged fivefold in a decade. Meanwhile, 19 states have weakened child labor protections since 2021. Show more... Take action Supply chain Company linked to Uyghur forced labor still supplies apparel to US Clothes linked to a US-sanctioned Chinese textile company over Uyghur forced labor are still reaching American shoppers due to weak inspections from US Customs. Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to threaten countries with tariffs over their weak protections against forced labor goods. Show more... Take action From the archives Forced marriage Iraqi girl killed after resisting forced marriage June 01, 2026—Kawthar was 13 when she was forced into marriage. She got out—but at 15, another was arranged. When she refused, relatives shot her ten times and celebrated in the streets. Her death is a devastating reminder of what’s at stake now that Iraq has lowered the marriage age to nine. In your own words Re: ICE rewrote its rules to shield multi-billion dollar corporations from forced labor lawsuits   "Modern day slavery is as despicable and egregious as [18th] century slavery. It degrades and debases human beings. In the case of ICE, it isn’t even a punishment as 90% of the detainees have no criminal record. It’s just slavery to maximize profits." —Pascal   Read the story here. Forward this email to friends to keep them updated about new developments in the movement against modern slavery. If you’re not already receiving our news digest on a weekly basis, click here to subscribe. Victory! Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1267, officially banning child marriage in California. California joins 18 states setting the minimum marriage age at 18 with no exceptions. Now, let's push the remaining 32 states to follow. Add your name and demand every state ban child marriage. Everything we do—holding the powerful to account, exposing injustice, fighting modern slavery—is powered by our readers. We're independently run with no government funding. So, if you can, please make a small donation. It goes a long way. Donate Dianne Pratt Freedom United Modern slavery is increasing, and too often powerful companies and governments fail to act with the urgency needed to protect people. That's why independent advocacy like Freedom United's is so vital. If you're able, please consider chipping in or becoming a monthly donor to help keep this work going. Become a monthly donor ©2026 Freedom United is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. EIN: 47-1249214 7320 Abron Dr, Durham, NC 27713 USA View this Email in a Browser     Unsubscribe      Privacy Policy      Feedback      Content Guidelines