The American Anti-Slavery Group
Advocacy and Activism in the Fight to Abolish Modern-Day Slavery
The American Anti-Slavery Group is a human rights organization dedicated to educating the public about modern-day slavery and working toward the goal of abolition.
The guiding principle of the American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG) is that “slavery isn’t history.” In fact, as the information on the organization’s website illustrates, there are roughly 27 million people worldwide who suffer in modern-day bondage.
This number, 27 million, is so astounding that it can be difficult to comprehend. The US Department of State estimates that roughly 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year, the majority of whom are women and children. And, the US Central Intelligence Agency puts the number of people who are trafficked into the United States alone between 14,500 and 17,000 annually. The mission of the AASG is to further publicize these atrocities by disseminating accurate and timely information regarding human trafficking and modern-day slavery and to work cooperatively with the global community to establish programs that will work toward eradication.
History and Achievements of the American Anti-Slavery Group
Since the AASG was founded by Dr. Charles Jacobs in 1994, the organization has educated people around the world and worked to provide relief to those who suffer. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the historic home of the American abolitionist movement, the AASG has been instrumental in bringing an awareness of the four types of modern-day slavery (chattel slavery, sex slavery, debt bondage, and forced labor) to the global populace.
In addition, the organization has frequently teamed up with other agencies to provide on-the-ground relief. For example, the AASG has partnered with Christian Solidarity International, an organization headquartered in Switzerland, to perform slave liberation missions in Sudan and to offer support to freed slaves. The AASG has also played a crucial role in encouraging investment firms, universities, and state legislatures to participate in divestment (the act of withdrawing investments) from companies that are helping to fund the genocide in Darfur.
The Goals of the AASG
The American Anti-Slavery Group is committed to assisting victims of trafficking and slavery through the four A’s: awareness, advocacy, activism, and aid. The hope is that these four A’s will ultimately lead to the goal of abolition.
The AASG is committed to reaching this goal through education and grassroots mobilization. As such, the organization provides materials and outlines suggestions for how everyone can be involved in the struggle to abolish modern-day slavery.
Tips for Successful Activism
The first step that the AASG outlines is to raise awareness and become equipped with knowledge. The organization offers detailed information regarding the four forms of modern-day slavery, as well as academic articles, statistics, and links to other authoritative sources on the subject. Much of this information can be found in the section of the website marked “Modern Slavery 101.”
Once an awareness of these facts is achieved and a knowledge base is established, it’s time to participate in advocacy, activism, and aid. To assist individuals in taking that next step and putting their new-found knowledge into practice, the AASG offers practical opportunities for involvement. On the website, individuals will be able to access and sign online petitions, join the Freedom Action Network (FAN) Newsletter, participate in fundraising campaigns, book speakers, or even apply for a summer internship with the organization.
Following the suggestions outlined on the website, one will find that there are myriad ways to become involved in the new abolitionist movement and, as the AASG’s commitment to the cause demonstrates, every step counts. We must use our freedom to assist those who are not so fortunate. As Francis Bok, a former slave in Sudan and a current speaker for the AASG asks, “What good is my freedom if my brothers and sisters around the world are enslaved?” Surely, this is the question we must all be asking ourselves as we begin to move forward in this strugle and join with the AASG in their campaign to help make freedom a greater possibility for the 27,000,000 who suffer in bondage.
