Freedom United’s 2026 For Freedom Awards

Around the world, millions remain trapped in modern slavery, but the work of dedicated activists, storytellers, and changemakers inspires hope and drives change.

At Freedom United, we believe that lasting change begins with collective action.

The For Freedom Awards celebrate modern abolitionists making a difference—individuals and organizations whose efforts have mobilized communities, raised awareness, and driven systemic change to help end modern slavery.

2026 Winners

  • Campaign of the Year

    Freedom Network USA

    Freedom Network USA

  • Digital Activist Winner

    Sea-Watch

    Sea-Watch

  • Storytelling for Freedom

    Beyond Trafficking and Slavery

    Beyond Trafficking and Slavery

  • Rising Changemaker

    Feith Murunga

    Feith Murunga

Digital Activist of the Year

Recognizing individuals who have harnessed online platforms to take dedicated action toward ending modern slavery


Freedom United is proud to award the Digital Activist of the Year Award to Sea-Watch whose lifesaving rescue work is matched with relentless documentation of human rights violations against migrants in the Central Mediterranean. In 2025, Sea-Watch published a landmark report showing how violence against migrants by the Libyan Coast Guard has steadily escalated—exposing how the EU‘s hostile migration policies sustain systems of abuse.

Runner up Julia Hubbard

Campaign of the Year

Celebrating a campaign that has secured significant changes for a world more resilient to modern slavery

Freedom United is proud to award the Campaign of the Year Award to Freedom Network USA, a leading national coalition advancing survivor-centered policy and systems change across the United States. Last year, they were instrumental in securing the release of $88 million in long-delayed federal funding for trafficking survivor services after the US Department of Justice stalled the 2025 grant process, putting more than 3,000 survivors at risk of losing essential support. 

Runner up Union of Indonesian Migrant Workers (SBMI)

Storytelling for Freedom

Honoring an individual or organization whose impactful stories, art, or media have raised critical awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery.

, an  editorial platform that transformed how modern slavery is understood. By challenging “bad apple” narratives and exposing the structural drivers of exploitation, including poverty, migration policy, and corporate power, they reshaped anti-trafficking discourse and bridged the gaps between academia, activism and lived experience. BTS penned their last piece in 2025, leaving a forever lasting legacy on the anti-trafficking sector.

Runner up Jane Lasonder

Rising Changemaker

Honoring the young leaders who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the anti-slavery movement

Freedom United is proud to award the Rising Changemaker Award to Feith Murunga, a courageous survivor advocate and emerging leader working to elevate the voices of trafficked women and migrant domestic workers exploited across the Gulf region. After surviving modern slavery in Saudi Arabia, she now supports fellow survivors in building their legal cases to seek remedies for their abuse as well as building a survivor-led network to support returnees and their families.

Runner up David Yambio

Last year’s winners

  • Campaign of the Year

    Anti-Slavery International

    Anti-Slavery International

  • Digital Activist Winner

    Shahin and Jahangir Gavanji

    Shahin and Jahangir Gavanji

  • Storytelling for Freedom

    Mech Dara

    Mech Dara

  • Rising Changemaker

    Uyghur Youth Initiative

    Uyghur Youth Initiative

Past For Freedom Awards Winners

Freedom United was proud to award the Campaigner of the Year Award to Jewher Ilham for her unceasing activism to end Uyghur forced labor in China, the Digital Activist Award to Ishaan Shah for being the most active digital campaigner in the Freedom United community in 2023, the Impact Award to Campaign for Uyghurs for their unceasing work advocating for an end to Uyghur forced labor and the Spotlight Award to Footprint to Freedom!

Past Winners

  • For Freedom Campaigner of the Year

    Jewher Ilham

    Jewher Ilham

  • For Freedom Digital Activist Winner

    Ishaan Shah

    Ishaan Shah

  • For Freedom Impact Winner

    Campaign for Uyghurs

    Campaign for Uyghurs

  • For Freedom Spotlight Winner

    Footprint to Freedom

    Footprint to Freedom