Ending Slavery: Strategies for Contemporary Global Abolition (FutureLearn)

Ending Slavery: Strategies for Contemporary Global Abolition (FutureLearn)

There are 45.8 million slaves alive today. Find out how we might achieve a slavery-free world with this free online course. There are more slaves alive today than at any point in history. Around the world, nearly 46 million people are forced to work against their will for no pay. Responding to this challenge over the past 20 years, a new antislavery movement has shown us that a world without slavery is possible. Now is your chance to learn about this major human rights issue with the world’s first massive open online course about contemporary slavery.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Understand contemporary slavery
You’ll learn from experts at the cutting edge of human rights research, and you’ll investigate the complex systems that sustain slavery today.
You will consider:

  • Different forms of slavery
  • Ground-breaking research about slavery’s measurement and definition
  • Strategies for ending slavery at the local, national and international levels
  • The roles of governments, businesses, technology, legislation and enslaved people themselves in ending slavery

Explore the historical context of slavery
The new UN Sustainable Development Goals now call for an end to global slavery by 2030, but how can we achieve this? To end slavery in the future, first we must look to the past. On the course we will look at the historical context of slavery and antislavery. What antislavery techniques have worked to date? Do past antislavery movements offer any lessons? Is historical antislavery a usable past for today’s efforts?

Learn from experts in the field
This course is supported by the AHRC Care for the Future research grant “The Antislavery Usable Past” and features research and teaching from experts in human rights and in past and present antislavery. It is taught by Professor Kevin Bales, the world’s leading expert on contemporary slavery and one of the leaders of the antislavery movement, along with Professor Zoe Trodd, a leading expert on antislavery, and Dr. Katie Donington, a slavery historian.
You will have access to the most cutting-edge research available in this area and be part of brainstorming a new guide for ending slavery that covers every level, from the individual to the United Nations.
On this course you have the chance to not only learn about slavery and antislavery, but also debate and shape solutions for the next phase of the contemporary antislavery movement. This course is an essential experience for anyone who wants to be part of a great human rights battle of our time.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Understanding Violence Against Women: Myths and Realities (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Strathclyde

Understanding Violence Against Women: Myths and Realities (FutureLearn)

Learn how to challenge attitudes that lead to violence against women and develop your knowledge of this human rights issue. The United Nations considers violence against women to be a grave violation of human rights of epidemic proportions. Such violence has profoundly negative consequences for individuals, communities and entire societies. This is why violence against women is a priority issue for governments and societies around the world.

Apr 18th 2022
5-12 Weeks
History of Slavery in the British Caribbean (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Glasgow,University of the West Indies - UWI

History of Slavery in the British Caribbean (FutureLearn)

Explore the history and legacy of British colonial slavery and oppression in the Caribbean through historical slave accounts. Learn about Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. On this course, you’ll be introduced to the history of slavery and the lived experiences of enslaved people in the British Caribbean.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Introduction to English Common Law (Coursera) Coursera
University of London

Introduction to English Common Law (Coursera)

The common law of England and Wales is one of the major global legal traditions. This MOOC will give you an introduction to this influential legal system including its history, constitutional background, sources and institutions. You’ll learn about the different ways in which laws are made and interpreted, the English court system and the increasing importance of European Union and human rights law. Now is an especially exciting time to be learning about English common law, given the potential changes that lie ahead in today’s political, economic and social environment – all these pose challenges to and opportunities for the law.

Nov 30th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Privacy in Europe (Coursera) Coursera
EIT Digital

Privacy in Europe (Coursera)

After having followed Privacy in the Western world you have become acquainted with the overall global legal system and the origins of privacy as a concept as well as privacy as a (human) right. This course deals with the European legal system to protect privacy. European privacy protection is based upon human rights treaties, both on a European level as well global level such as, e.g. the UN Declaration on Human Rights. This course outlines and deals with these human rights treaties as well as with the specific rules and regulations that govern day to day privacy protection in Europe.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice (edX)

Learn how to protect children from violence, exploitation, and neglect through law, policy, and practice in a human rights framework. Across the world, children are at riskfrom violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Conflict and natural disasters have forced millions to flee their homes and confront the dangers of migration and displacement.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Introduction to the Rule of Law (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The University of Law,Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Introduction to the Rule of Law (FutureLearn)

Law

Investigate the Judiciary system and the Rule of Law, and discover how it affects us in the UK. What is the Rule of Law? The Rule of Law is integral to upholding our fundamental rights and freedoms in the UK. On this three-week course from the University of Law, you’ll consider what is meant by the Rule of Law, focussing on the role of the Judiciary and the interconnection between the Rule of Law and our human rights.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World (Coursera) Coursera
University of London,SOAS University of London

Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World (Coursera)

The course offers a well-researched and broad-ranging primer to the United Nations system. Consisting of an introduction to the complex UN family and its history, and a series of ‘snapshots’ of key UN functions, which are used to explore important UN themes and help learners develop important analysis, communication, and policy-based skills.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Championing Change: Human Rights and the Climate Crisis (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Amnesty International

Championing Change: Human Rights and the Climate Crisis (FutureLearn)

Learn why climate change is a human rights issue, and how human rights can be used as a tool to combat the climate crisis.Find solutions that address both global warming and human rights violations. Rising sea levels. Floods. Droughts. Extreme weather. We know the effects of climate change but their associated human rights violations are not as well understood.

Nov 22nd 2021
3 Weeks
Privacy in the Western World (Coursera) Coursera
EIT Digital

Privacy in the Western World (Coursera)

Welcome to this course about privacy. We are thrilled to see that you are interested and will provide you with a comprehensive study of this intriguiging subject. We hope this course will enthuse you to look further into privacy and personal data regulation. Especially in the light of recent events it becomes more important to know about your (alleged!?) rights and freedoms.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Protect the Protest: Using Our Rights to Freedom of Assembly and Expression (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Amnesty International

Protect the Protest: Using Our Rights to Freedom of Assembly and Expression (FutureLearn)

Investigate the concept of protesting as a tool for social change, as well as how the freedom to protest is under threat. Examine the power of protest and its part in protecting human rights. Protesting is a powerful tool for promoting and defending human rights, used throughout history to change mindsets and agendas. On this three-week course from Amnesty International, you’ll investigate the power of protest as a force for change and explore current challenges to the right to protest.

Jul 25th 2022
3 Weeks
International Women's Health and Human Rights (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University

International Women's Health and Human Rights (Coursera)

This course focuses on women’s health and human rights issues from infancy through old age, including information about positive interventions relating to those issues. Learners are encouraged to interact with each other through interactive discussions. It is important to us that this course be available to all learners. We encourage you to apply for Coursera's financial aid (see link to left) if the cost of the course certificate is difficult for you to afford. Please note that you may view all materials in this course, and participate in it, without purchasing a certificate.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks