- Governments implement measures to prevent, identify and address modern slavery, and to protect and monitor vulnerable groups and victims of modern slavery.
- Businesses have implemented anti-modern slavery measures to prevent, identify and tackle the use of human trafficking and forced labour, including the worst forms of child labour, in their own operations and supply chains.
- Vulnerable individuals and groups are more capable of resisting and seeking redress on their recruitment into modern slavery.
The most recent ILO report suggests that modern slavery is on the increase, with an estimated 50 million people worldwide living in various forms of modern slavery including forced labour and marriage. In addition to being illegal, modern slavery is also highly profitable; in 2017 the ILO estimated that forced labour in the private sector was generating around US$150bn per year.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) of the UnitedNations1, the number of people in Modern Slavery has continued to rise with Global Estimates indicating that 50 million people worldwide are victims of Modern Slavery, including 28 million in forced labour and 22 million in forced marriages. Since 2016 the number of men, women, girls and boys in Modern Slavery has risen by nearly 10 million.
More than 12 million of the total number of people in Modern Slaveryare children. Children also account for about 12 per cent of all those in forced labour. More than half of these children are in commercial sexual exploitation. In addition, more than 160 million children are subject to child labour, accounting for almost one in ten children around the world. Nearly half of these children (79 million) are in hazardous work. A deterioration of civil and political rights in the face of global crises, has increased the risk for women and children, who are already vulnerable to Modern Slavery.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour. Nearly four out of every five of those trapped in forced commercial exploitation are girls or women. Women and girls also remain disproportionately at risk of forced marriage, accounting for more than two-thirds of all people forced to marry.
Nearly two-thirds of all forced labour cases are connected to global supply chains.
Here is how you can effectively take action against modern slavery:
1. Educate Yourself and Raise Awareness
- Learn the signs: Understand what modern slavery looks like, including forced labor, debt bondage, and human trafficking.
- Spread the word: Share information on social media or host awareness events in your community.
- Stay informed: Follow campaigns and read resources from organizations like Anti-Slavery Internationalor Be Slavery Free.
2. Leverage Your Consumer Power
- Buy ethically: Purchase products from companies that have transparent, slavery-free supply chains.
- Research brands: Use resources and apps that rate brands based on their labor practices and efforts to eliminate forced labor.
3. Support Anti-Slavery Organizations
- Donate and volunteer: Support frontline charities and NGOs that rescue victims, shelter survivors, and advocate for policy change.
- Take action locally: Get involved with initiatives and petitions featured on platforms like Free the Slaves.
4. Report Suspected Cases
- Contact authorities: If you suspect someone is a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking, contact local law enforcement immediately.
- Use helplines: Look up your country’s national human trafficking hotline (e.g., in Germany, you can seek advice through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs networks).
5. Advocate for Stronger Policies
- Engage politically: Write to your elected representatives to push for stricter legislation, ratification of forced labor protocols, and robust corporate accountability laws.
- Support survivors: Advocate for policies that help rehabilitate survivors and give them secure control over their lives.