What is modern slavery | Introduction | Latest statistics | Challenges | How to control
There was a time when labours were sold in markets. So was practised for servants. Time has flipped; man become so-called civilised. Now men, women and children are forced, directly or indirectly to make themselves ready to get sold in a modern way but with the same intention as it was when men used to use horses and swords.
According to the latest report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 5 crore people are in forced labour or forced marriage globally. In the last 5 years, it has jumped by 1 crore. These are men, women and children who are forced to work or to marry because of threats, violence, deception or abuse of power. Close to 3 crore people are in situations of forced labour, and a further 2 crore people are in forced marriages. This is a noteworthy expansion over the last five years. Women and children are extremely vulnerable. More than two-thirds of those forced to marry are female, and almost three-quarters are younger than fifteen. Migrants are more likely to be in forced labour or to be trafficked than other groups. And more than 30 lakh children are in forced labour, half of them in commercial sexual exploitation. Modern slavery occurs in almost each and every country in the world. In fact, more than 50% of all forced labour occurs in developed countries. Entrapment in forced labour can last years, while in most cases a forced marriage is a sentence for life.
But we know what to be done to check this gloomy move. With the proper guidelines and measures, we can all help end modern slavery. See what we can do. Enhancing and implementing strict laws and labour inspections in all sections, this offbeat can be checked. By ending state-imposed forced labour it might get a positive direction. Bringing stricter measures to combat trafficking in trade and supply chains and boosting social protection thousands of souls can be saved. And also, it is worth mentioning, fortifying legal protections, including raising the legal age of marriage to 18 without exception. Other measures include handling the inflated risk of trafficking and forced labour for migrant workers and promoting fair and ethical recruitment, and greater support for women, girls and vulnerable individuals. Someone truly said, “Nobody is free until everybody is free.”