Slavery is more than a crime. It is an offence against human dignity. Every case of exploitation represents a failure of someone to respect the inherent human dignity of another. Yet we live in a world where human beings are bought, sold and forced into exploitation in their tens of millions. Above all Arise is committed to promoting and protecting human dignity, from which all rights and freedoms flow.

Where human dignity is under attack within the human family, solidarity demands we defend it. Belief in individual human dignity makes it impossible to turn your back on human suffering, regardless of creed, colour or other status. This confers a collective responsibility. The same solidarity demands that we challenge systems where unjust practices have become enshrined, leading to exploitation, and in the worst cases, direct enslavement, mutilation, and death. We are active in our commitment to solidarity - convening and connecting people of good will across all social and professional boundaries.

No two cases of exploitation are the same. For this reason, meeting the needs of survivors requires unflinching attentiveness, tenacity and an entrepreneurial spirit. At the same time, survivors are sometimes so affected by what they have endured that meeting their needs means providing stable, unconditional accompaniment over long periods. We believe that the qualities of creativity and unconditionality - which, to some degree, are in tension - are key to keeping human dignity at the heart of front- line work and the antidote to commodification.

Arise chooses to work in a way which respects the expertise and right to self-determination of local activists. We aim to contribute to the building up of local networks in recognition of the truth that no one organisation alone can end slavery. We aim not to impose our ideas from the centre, but to listen, amplifying local voices, practising patience in all our alliances. It is our belief that this way of operating means that we can be a catalyst for positive change in the front- line movement against modern slavery, adding capacity where we can, and supporting in other ways where our role is better fulfilled that way.

While Arise is not a faith-based charity, we recognise the power of faith to bring about long-lasting change and often support faith-based work. Well over 80% of the global population is religiously affiliated - even higher in many of the worst affected regions. Arise believes a faith-basis can bring an added dimension to frontline work, enhancing its change making power. In addition, many highly motivated frontline initiatives are faith-based, embedded in the communities they serve, often working very sacrificially and economically. Their contribution is too often overlooked. Where work like this is authentically plural and free from proselytism, Arise is delighted to support it.