Surviving Modern Slavery Myself: A Global Challenge from the USA to Africa

An Essay by BERNADETTE AGANO, a Survivor of Child Slavery in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Chief Advocacy Officer of the USASO:

Modern Slavery remains one of the gravest human rights violations of

our time, affecting millions of people worldwide.

While the United States has made progress in combating human

trafficking domestically, modern Slavery is not confined to its borders

and is still legally supported by the 13th Amendment.

Across Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), countless individuals continue to face exploitation through forced labor, sexual Slavery, and coerced painful involvement in lucrative industries. For instance, gold mining operations in DRC have been linked to horrible labor exploitation, demonstrating that Slavery persists in high-value sectors that feed global supply chains.

Consider cobalt. Nearly every phone, computer, battery, and critical global technology minerals are tainted by exploitation and Slavery in the DRC. Thousands of children remain abused and Enslaved, dangerously mining minerals, that ultimately end up in the hands of billion-dollar multi-national corporations that desperately use our resources to create their products.

It is crazy that American Slavery is still legal in its very own writing in the constitution: "Except as a punishment for crime" and it is sad that there are many people in American prisons who have received cruel and inhumane punishments because of "Mandatory Minimums" and the "War On Drugs" and it is also sad that corporations also exploit this humanitarian crisis, as if knowingly exploiting the Enslaved children of the Congo was not enough. A lot of work must be done to serve justice and freedom, and we all must be able to unite in peace for the common good. Because at the end of the day we are all just human who can try our best to do the right thing.

Ending modern Slavery in America is a critical step forward to addressing and ending modern Slavery in Africa. It requires an active willingness, coordinated international attention, accountability, and sustained action from citizens and leaders at all levels. This same situation is faced in Sudan as well as so many other African countries that are plagued with violence and corruption.

As a survivor leader, I have witnessed firsthand the profound traumatic impact of Slavery on individuals, families, and communities. In my city and region, I have worked to support other survivors, helping them reclaim their lives and advocating for access to justice, advocacy and reintegration programs. Through local initiatives and collaborations across Africa, including working with the African Survivor Coalition, Alliance 8.7, and Free The Slaves, we have focused on amplifying survivor voices, raising awareness, and challenging societal stigma.

These experiences highlight an important truth: survivors are not passive victims. By sharing our stories, mentoring others, and speaking in policy discussions, survivors actively dismantle systems of Slavery exploitation and do courageously contribute to long-term solutions. The link between exploitation in Africa and consumer markets in the United States underscores the global nature of this issue. Minerals extracted under exploitative conditions, such as gold from Sudan or cobalt from child Slavery in the DRC, too often enter global supply chains reaching U.S. industries.

While American companies and regulators have made progress in promoting ethical sourcing, gaps remain allowing labor exploitation to persist. This illustrates the need for both governments and civil society to remain vigilant, ensuring that international trade does not perpetuate modern Slavery. Combating modern Slavery requires action at multiple levels. Governments must enforce anti-trafficking laws, strengthen international cooperation, and prioritize ethical supply chains. Civil society, particularly survivor-led initiatives, plays a crucial role in education, advocacy, and survivor empowerment. Across Africa, local organizations and coalitions provide survivors with the tools to reclaim autonomy and challenge exploitative Slave systems. When these efforts are supported and amplified internationally, they create a powerful network capable of responding to both local and global forms of Slavery.

In conclusion, modern Slavery is a global issue that transcends borders, requiring shared responsibility and coordinated action. The United States, as both a consumer market and a leader in human rights advocacy, has a very critical role to play.

I humbly urge the U.S. government, and all civilian executive leaders within the legal, financial, and all other complicit industries, really anyone who has a voice that can help others, continue prioritizing anti-Slavery initiatives, enforce ethical trade standards, and support survivor- centered programs both domestically and abroad. Advocate for freedom and justice for those who remain unjustly incarcerated and Enslaved.

Likewise, U.S. civil society should maintain strong partnerships with African organizations and survivor networks, recognizing that sustainable solutions depend on collaboration, accountability, and empowerment. By uniting these efforts, we can work toward a world where exploitation and Slavery is no longer tolerated and seriously ensure that every survivor has the opportunity to heal, thrive, and lead.

In America, the Exploitation of Slavery through the 13th Amendment loophole since 1865 definitely needs to end. Due process and equal protection of the laws must be upheld for all American citizens who are unjustly incarcerated and Enslaved in prisons because of the "War on Drugs" and cruel "Mandatory Minimums" that clearly violate human rights in many cases.

At the same time, Slavery in the Congo, which has been exploited by American companies for far too long, must finally end. We all must be able to come together as human beings in peace and in unity to finally have true justice, liberation, and freedom. We may be separated by the Atlantic Ocean, but at the end of the day we are all human and we can only try to do our best to end Slavery in every form.