Google Donating $11.5M to Fight Modern-Day Slavery

December 15, 2011

Technology giant Google says it is donating $11.5 million to several coalitions fighting to end the modern-day slavery of some 27 million people around the world.

The donation is believed to be one of the largest corporate initiatives ever to fight slavery.

A Google official Wednesday said the company chose organizations with proven track records in combating slavery. Google says its grants will “free more than 12,000 people from modern-day slavery and prevent “millions more from being victimized.” Ten organizations will be receiving the grants from the technology company.

The Washington-based human rights agency, International Justice Mission, is one of the organizations that will participate in the effort. The rights organization is entering a joint initiative with the groups Polaris Project and Slavery Footprint in a multi-year effort aimed in part at rescuing the enslaved and pushing for better resources for law enforcement agencies overseas.