• According to the ILO, there are 22 million forced marriages and 28 million forced labourers worldwide

    International
    According to the ILO, there are 22 million forced marriages and 28 million forced labourers worldwide

    Almost one in eight of all those in forced labour are children (3.3 million). More than half of these are in commercial sexual exploitation.

    Digital Desk: According to the most
    recent Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, fifty million people were living in
    modern slavery in 2021. Of these people, 28 million were forced to work and 22
    million were forced to marry.



    In the last five years, the number of people in modern
    slavery has increased significantly. In 2021, there will be 10 million more
    people in modern slavery than in 2016. Women and children continue to face
    disproportionate risks.



    Modern slavery exists in almost every country on the
    planet and crosses ethnic, cultural, and religious boundaries. More than half
    of all forced labour and a quarter of all forced marriages occur in
    upper-middle and high-income countries.

    Forced
    labour





    The majority of cases of forced labour (86%) are found
    in the private sector. Forced labour in non-commercial sexual exploitation
    sectors accounts for 63% of all forced labour, while forced commercial sexual
    exploitation accounts for 23% of all forced labour. Women and girls make up
    nearly four out of every five victims of forced commercial sexual exploitation.



    State-imposed forced labour accounts for 14% of all
    forced labourers.



    Almost one in eight of all those in forced labour are
    children (3.3 million). More than half of these are in commercial sexual
    exploitation.

    Forced
    marriage





    On any given day in 2021, an estimated 22 million
    people were subjected to forced marriage. This represents a 6.6 million
    increase over global estimates from 2016.



     



    The true incidence of forced marriage, particularly
    among children aged 16 and under, is likely to be far higher than current
    estimates can capture; these are based on a narrow definition and do not
    include all child marriages. Because a child cannot legally give consent to
    marry, child marriages are considered forced.





    Forced marriage is deeply rooted in long-standing
    patriarchal attitudes and practices, and it is highly context-dependent. Family
    pressure drove the vast majority of forced marriages (more than 85 percent).
    Although Asia and the Pacific account for two-thirds (65%) of all forced
    marriages, when regional population size is taken into account, the Arab States
    have the highest prevalence, with 4.8 people out of every 1,000 in the region
    forced to marry.



    Migrants are particularly vulnerable to forced
    labour.



    Migrant workers are more than three times more
    likely to be subjected to forced labour than non-migrant adult workers. While
    labour migration has a generally positive impact on individuals, households,
    communities, and societies, this finding highlights how migrants are
    particularly vulnerable to forced labour and trafficking, whether as a result
    of irregular or poorly governed migration or unfair and unethical recruitment
    practices.




    "It is shocking that modern slavery's
    situation is not improving. Nothing can justify the continuation of this
    fundamental violation of human rights," said Guy Ryder, Director-General
    of the International Labour Organization. "We know what needs to be done
    and that it is doable." National policies and regulations must be
    effective. However, governments cannot do it alone. International standards
    serve as a solid foundation, and an all-hands-on-deck approach is required.
    Trade unions, employer organizations, civil society, and ordinary citizens all
    play critical roles."





    IOM Director-General António Vitorino stated:
    "This study highlights the need of ensuring that all migration is secure,
    regular, and orderly. At all stages of the migration process, regardless of
    their immigration status, reducing the vulnerability of migrants to forced
    labour and human trafficking is primarily dependent on national policy and
    legal frameworks that respect, protect, and uphold the human rights and
    fundamental freedoms of all migrants and potential migrants. To reverse these
    terrible trends, the entire society must come together, including through the
    adoption of the Global Compact on Migration.

    Ending Modern slavery



    The paper makes a number of suggestions for steps
    that, if implemented rapidly and collectively, would represent a substantial
    step toward eradicating modern slavery. A few of these are boosting legal
    protections, including raising the marriage age to 18 without exception,
    enhancing laws and labour inspections, removing state-imposed forced labour, and taking tougher action against forced labour and human trafficking in industries
    and supply chains. Other solutions include tackling the increasing danger of
    forced labour and human trafficking for migrant workers, encouraging ethical
    and fair hiring practises, and providing more support for women, girls, and
    vulnerable people.