Episode 12: Matt Friedman CEO Mekong Club, Talks Gender Equality with Chiara Condi

The Other Half : Conversations With Men on Gender Equality

Matt Friedman is an expert on human trafficking and the founder of the Mekong Club, a Hong Kong based-business association that helps companies free their supply chains from slavery. We talk with Matt about why there are more people today in slavery than ever before in human history (45 million!) and the role of gender inequality in perpetuating modern-day slavery for women. We learn the moving story of Gita, a woman he was unable to save and why it should push each one of us to act to end modern-day slavery to each be part of healing the world. Matt tells us that it was easy for him to be a feminist growing up sympathising with the struggles of his 3 older sisters. He was also raided by a mother who handed him his fighting injustice and his talent for storytelling which have certainly influenced his activism. Matt tells us about being the father of two boys and the importance of being present for them on a daily basis in a way his father could not be. And finally we learn why the time has come for men who are allies to spend a lot more time with those who are not.