END IT Movement's Third Annual 'Shine A Light on Slavery' Day Intends To Build On Unprecedented Awareness Generated In 2014

ATLANTA, Feb. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Last year marked a turning point in The END IT Movement's quest to shine a light on slavery with millions of people around the world joining the cause; including hundreds of celebrities and athletes leveraging their voices and influence to drive awareness on the real-life issue of modern-day slavery.

The END IT Movement, a coalition of the world's leading organizations in the fight for freedom, today announced that for the 3rd year in a row, February 27, 2015 is declared 'Shine A Light on Slavery Day.' END IT is comprised of 16 coalition partners who are on the ground everyday bringing awareness, prevention, rescue and restoration to those who are trapped in slavery.

In addition, END IT has launched their newest platform, 27x7, which allows END IT supporters to create their own team of Freedom Fighters by recruiting 27 friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors and acquaintances. The goal is to encourage each team member to give $7 and create a team of their own, triggering a ripple effect throughout communities, banding together and raising money for each of END IT's coalition partners and funding specific projects around the world.

"The global response and groundswell from the first two years of the movement left us speechless," said Jenni Brown, END IT Movement Campaign Director. "Social media has provided us the ideal platform to raise awareness for modern-day slavery by connecting ordinary people with the issue and encouraging them to become freedom fighters. We anticipate the response to our new 27x7 platform and this year's Shine a Light on Slavery Day to raise the bar for FREEDOM yet again."

2014's Shine a Light on Slavery Day ignited a viral response on social media, led by influencers putting red X's on their hands. The END IT message was amplified to millions via social media thanks to hundreds of celebrities, athletes and politicians leveraging their networks and voices for the cause, resulting in #ENDITMOVEMENT becoming a top-trending topic on Twitter on February 27, 2014, grossing nearly 100M impressions. In addition, the movement generated 73M Instagram and 22M Facebook impressions capping off a hugely successful one-day campaign.

This week, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will be introducing bipartisan legislation, coinciding with February 27th, aimed at turning awareness into action through The End Modern Slavery Initiative Act of 2015.

The END IT Movement, united with their Coalition Partners, work to expose the harsh reality that more people are trapped in slavery around the world today than any other time in history¹. On February 27, 2015, END IT is encouraging Freedom Fighters nationwide to draw a red 'X' on their hands and share this symbol virally as a representation of the estimated more than 27 million people trapped in slavery today.

END IT recognizes slavery is one person completely controlling another person, using violence or the threat of violence to maintain that control. For more information on how you can join, please visit www.enditmovement.com.

About The END IT Movement
END IT is a coalition of 16 non-profit organizations aimed to shine a light on slavery and show the world that the practice still exists. Its members include A21 Campaign, As Our Own, Bombay Teen Challenge, ECPAT, Exodus Road,  Free the Slaves, Hagar International, Hope For Justice, International Justice Mission (IJM), Love146, Made in A Free World, Not For Sale, Polaris, The Salvation Army, World Relief and World Vision. All of these organizations are working around the globe to rescue, restore and prevent modern-day slavery. For more information about these partners, visit www.enditmovement.com

SOURCE END IT Movement

Related Links

http://www.enditmovement.com