Modern Slavery has grown since 2018 against the backdrop of increasing complex conflicts, widespread environmental degradation, climate-induced migrationand rollback of women’s rights and the economic and social impacts of COVID-19. The Global Survey Index by the Human Rights group Walk Free said the number of people living in modern slavery increased to 50 million.
The index revealed that ten countries had the highest prevalence of modern slavery. They are North Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.
“Modern slavery permeates every aspect of our society. It is woven through our clothes, lights up our electronics, and seasons our food. At its core, it is a manifestation of extreme inequality. It is a mirror held to power, reflecting who in any given society has it and who does not. Nowhere is this paradox more present than in our global economy through transnational supply chains,” said Founding Director of Walk Free, Grace Forrest.
G20 NATIONS AND SLAVERY
The report notes that G20 accounts for over half of all people living in modern slavery and imports US$468 billion of at-risk products annually. The United States was by far the biggest importer of at-risk products (US$169.6 billion). Electronics remained the highest value at-risk product (US$243.6 billion), followed by garments (US$147.9 billion), palm oil (US$19.7 billion), solar panels (US$14.8 billion), and textiles (US$12.7 billion).
The report revealed six G20 nations are among the countries with the largest number of people in modern slavery, India (11 million), China (5.8 million), Russia (1.9 million), Indonesia (1.8 million), Turkey (1.3 million) and the United States (1.1 million).
CLIMATE CHANGE AND MODERN SLAVERY
The report shows that intense weather events displaced communities and spurred risks of modern slavery. Moreover, the index said sectors at high risk of forced labour, such as mining, logging, and textile/garment manufacturing, contribute to climate degradation.
THE GOVERNMENTS
Since 2018, the number of people living in modern slavery has increased to 50 million. However, the report finds that government action stagnated, particularly among those with traditionally stronger responses. It said that no government was on track to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 of ending modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking by 2030.
In recent years, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Norway have introduced legislation to hold business and government accountable for exploitation that occurs in global supply chains. While a step in the right direction, G20 countries should be using their advantage to move from intention to real action.
“With 50 million people living in modern slavery today, this Global Slavery Index demands immediate action. Walk Free is calling on governments around the world to step up their efforts to end modern slavery on their shores and in their supply chains. We know the scale of the issue and have the knowledge and the policies needed to act. What we need now is political will,” Forrest said.
KEY ACTIONS
The report calls on governments to take the following five key actions:
- Implement stronger measures to combat forced labour in public and private supply chains. Introduction of legislation to stop governments and businesses from sourcing goods or services linked to modern slavery.
- Embed anti-slavery measures in humanitarian and crisis responses. Ensure that human rights are embedded in efforts to build a green economy.
- Prioritise human rights when engaging with repressive regimes. This can be done by conducting due diligence to ensure that any trade, business, or investment is not contributing to or benefitting from state-imposed forced labour.
- Focus on prevention and protection for vulnerable populations by providing primary and secondary education for all children, including girls.
- Ensure effective civil and criminal protections in legislation to tackle forced and child marriage. Thios includes rising the age of marriage to 18 for girls and boys, with no exceptions.
MODERN SLAVERY
Modern slavery includes forced labour, forced or servile marriage, debt bondage, forced commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, slavery-like practices, and the sale and exploitation of children. In all its forms, it is the removal of a person’s freedom — their freedom to accept or refuse a job, their freedom to leave one employer for another, or their freedom to decide if, when, and whom to marry — in order to exploit them for personal or financial gain.
