Fifty million people are trapped in modern slavery globally; that’s ten times the entire population of New Zealand. More than half are from Southeast Asia or the Pacific.

One of the sustainable ways Kiwis are working to fight this dark trade and support people out of poverty is through the SAFE Programme.

Safe, Aware, Free, Empowered (SAFE) Programme

SAFE is a five-year, multi-million-dollar partnership with MFAT (New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Its main aim is to improve rural livelihoods and protect vulnerable communities from human trafficking, abuse and exploitation.  

The SAFE programme operates in four countries, weaving together our expertise in Farming and Enterprise, and Modern Slavery initiatives.  

In Fiji, community leaders are confronting issues of forced sex and exploitation. 

In Vanuatu, growing coffee has directly benefited more than 600 farm-based households. 

In Sri Lanka, training helped 1,500 small-holder dairy farmers increase production, improving the livelihoods for them and their households.

In the Solomon Islands, vulnerable youth are engaging in initiatives to increase their incomes and build a safe and sustainable future.

Human trafficking awareness initiatives and community development are having a considerable impact in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.  In the hopes that perpetrators will be brought to justice, it’s shining a light on humanity at its worst. This partnership is equipping people with the tools to build a better, safer future for their children and their communities. 

You can help protect more communities in Southeast Asia and the Pacific from human trafficking, abuse and exploitation by supporting our SAFE Programme.