People in 'modern slavery' shot up by 10 million between 2016 & 2021: Report

Global estimates of 'modern slavery' show that nearly 50 million people were trapped worldwide in forced labour (28 million) or forced marriage (22 million) on any given day in 2021. This equates to nearly 1 in every 150 people. The number of people in modern slavery had increased by an estimated 10 million people between 2016 and 2021.

Globally, women and girls are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, making up an estimated 54% of people in modern slavery; nearly one in four victims are children. This data is part of a report released by the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

In a statement released on Wednesday marking the launch of the report, Philemon Yang, President, UN General Assembly referred to the findings of the report as a “wake-up call”. He has called for enacting policies that are trauma-informed and survivor-centered, keeping in mind the unique challenges faced by different regions. “We must take a stronger stand against modern slavery and human trafficking,” he asserted.

The report highlights that “modern slavery” describes the severe exploitation of people for profit or personal gain. This exploitation can take many forms ranging from forced labour, child labour exploitation, domestic servitude to forced sexual exploitation, forced marriage, forced begging, debt bondage, forced criminality and child soldiering.

The estimates suggest that nearly four million people are in state-imposed forced labour at any point in time. “The ‘Global Estimates’ also show a rise in the number and prevalence of men, women and children in forced marriage. Over two-thirds of those forced into marriage are female,” the report highlights.

“No country is immune from modern slavery. It affects high and low-income countries, the Global North and Global South,” the report states while asserting that the findings bring into sharp focus the failure of the world to meet its target of ending modern slavery among children by 2025.

Asia and the Pacific has the highest estimated number of people in modern slavery – nearly 30 million. Arab States have the lowest number but the highest prevalence, with 10.1 people per 1,000 in modern slavery. Europe and Central Asia have lower absolute numbers than Asia and the Pacific (6.4m), but comparable prevalence rates (6.9 per 1,000 vs. 6.8 per 1,000).

“To compound the problem, we have grounds for believing that people’s vulnerabilities to modern slavery and human trafficking are increasing. This is the result of a number of factors, such as climate change, displacement of people and conflict,” the report states as it points out that given the data constraints the figures available may be “just the tip of the iceberg”.