There are increasing costs to business when they fail to respect basic human rights. Many are therefore taking steps to avoid abuses – and are taking a proactive rather than reactive approach.

Promising and innovative solutions to modern-day slavery range from labeling U.S. food products to forming joint police-NGO task forces. Each addresses a different aspect of slavery in the modern world, a pernicious problem that receives relatively little media attention.

In Thailand, the Issara Institute gives freed workers money, instead of services, and a chance to make their own choices. The system disavows paternalistic programs that tie strings to aid.

In Colombia, violence against women and domestic abuse are some of the highest in the region due to prolonged conflict, distrust in police and justice system, and economic oppression. Women are helping each other survive and report abuse outside of official organizations.

Largely unbeknownst to the public eye, Cleveland has been battling human trafficking in various forms for many years. Recently, the city has become a leader in trying to eradicate this longstanding problem. Thanks to a small group of activists and nonprofits, using billboards and gift bags as well as other creative methods, these groups are raising awareness, conducting strip club outreach, and creating a victim support network to help make human trafficking an issue of the past.