Slavery is not Bravery

In 2013, modern slavery takes many forms, and is known by many names: slavery, forced labour or human trafficking.

‘Slavery’ refers to the condition of treating another person as if they were property – something to be bought, sold, traded or even destroyed. ‘Forced labour’ is a related but not identical concept, referring to work taken without consent, by threats or coercion.  ‘Human trafficking’ is another related concept, referring to the process through which people are brought, through deception, threats or coercion, into slavery, forced labour or other forms of severe exploitation. Whatever term is used, the significant characteristic of all forms of modern slavery is that it involves one person depriving another people of their freedom: their freedom to leave one job for another, their freedom to leave one workplace for another, their freedom to control their own body.

While it takes different forms in different countries and sectors, every country has some form of modern slavery. It is estimated that 72.7 % of the estimated total 29.6 million people in modern slavery are in Asia. The countries with the highest estimated numbers of enslaved are India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Taken together, these countries account for more than 76% of the total estimate of 29.6 million in modern slavery. he country with the largest estimated number of people enslaved is India, which is estimated to have between 13,300,000 and 14,700,000 people enslaved.

The country with the second highest absolute numbers of enslaved is China, with an estimated 2,800,000 to 3,100,000 in modern slavery. The country with the third highest absolute number in modern slavery is Pakistan, with an estimated 2,000,000 to 2,200,000 in modern slavery.

We hope this draft Index will stimulate discussion and feedback ultimately leading to an improvement in the strength and usefulness of the Index. In addition, Walk Free would like to begin a process of engaging with governments and ultimately supporting countries to assess their response to modern slavery and improve the effectiveness of their response. Most countries have already voluntarily ratified international agreements such as the Slavery Convention, the UN Trafficking Protocol and the ILO Convention on Forced Labour. For instance, 97 countries, or 49.7% of members of the United Nations, are party to the 1926 Slavery Convention and 154 countries, or 79.7% of members of the United Nations, are party to the UN Trafficking Protocol. Through this action, Governments have already expressed their legally binding commitments to work towards the eradication of various forms of modern slavery.

Source: Walkfree Foundation