Thousands 'Walk for Freedom' to fight modern slavery

Selena Randhawa, CNN

Updated 1539 GMT (2339 HKT) October 17, 2017

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New York – On October 14 2017, tens of thousands of people around the world took part in the "Walk for Freedom" to help combat modern day slavery.

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Organized by anti-human trafficking group <a href="http://www.a21.org/" target="_blank">A21</a>, the walk was held in 400 locations across 51 nations to help bring awareness and funding to stop slavery.

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Amsterdam – Organized by anti-human trafficking group A21, the walk was held in 400 locations across 51 nations to help bring awareness and funding to stop slavery.

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The walks have been held every year since 2014, to raise awareness about the estimated <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/19/world/global-slavery-estimates-ilo/index.html">40 million</a> men, women, and children who are trapped in slavery.

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Brussels – The walks have been held every year since 2014, to raise awareness about the estimated 40 million men, women, and children who are trapped in slavery.

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Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, generating more than $150 billion every year, according to the <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2016/04/08/exp-cnn-money-view-nina-dos-santos-monique-villa.cnn">International Labour Organization</a>.

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Sydney – Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, generating more than $150 billion every year, according to the International Labour Organization.

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By fundraising and rallying thousands of people to the cause, organizers hope the event will be a catalyst for the rescue and rehabilitation of human trafficking victims.

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Copenhagen – By fundraising and rallying thousands of people to the cause, organizers hope the event will be a catalyst for the rescue and rehabilitation of human trafficking victims.

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Porto Alegre, Brazil – Marchers walked in single file, held up signs and wore yellow bandanas across their mouths.

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Mexico City – The yellow bandanas each carried the name of an actual trafficking survivor as a reminder that real people are the victims.

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Cape Town – A21's primary focus is tackling sex trafficking, Nick Caine, CEO of A21, told CNN.

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"We got so many encouraging words, so many car horns, people shouting their support," said A21 co-founder Christine Caine, at the LA Walk for Freedom

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Los Angeles – "We got so many encouraging words, so many car horns, people shouting their support," said A21 co-founder Christine Caine, at the LA Walk for Freedom

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"There's so many things that we're divided over right now, so that when people can see we're marching for freedom, that's something where we can all say 'yes, we can all stand for that,'" she added.

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London – "There's so many things that we're divided over right now, so that when people can see we're marching for freedom, that's something where we can all say 'yes, we can all stand for that,'" she added.

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Mount Maunganui, New Zealand – "I think it makes a big visual statement," she said.

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Caine stressed that although 40 million slaves around the world can be an overwhelming number, this is something everyone can do to help stop slavery.

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Mumbai – Caine stressed that although 40 million slaves around the world can be an overwhelming number, this is something everyone can do to help stop slavery.

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