Modern Slavery and Global Slavery Index

From the outside, it may appear to be a typical employment. People, however, are under control; they may experience violence or intimidation, are driven into insurmountable debt, or have had their passports revoked and face threats of deportation. Many have fallen victim to this restrictive trap while attempting to escape poverty or insecurity, improve their life, and provide for their families. They can no longer leave.

In the 2016 Global Slavery Index, we estimated that 18.3 million Indians were in modern slavery. The difference between these two numbers is due to changes in counting rules and estimation methods, as well as the presentation of the number of people who experienced modern slavery on any given day (a “stock” figure) in this year’s Global Slavery Index, as opposed to the much higher number of people in slavery at any time over a five-year period (a “flow” figure) as presented in 2016. The 2018 Global Slavery Index incorporates the inclusion of forced sexual exploitation and modern slavery of minors, but excludes data on organ trafficking and the use of children in armed conflict.

Slavery in India Today Should Be of Urgent Concern

According to the 2018 Global Slavery Index, 18 million people were living in modern slavery in India on any given day in 2016.

India was ranked 53 out of 167 nations in the report.

North Korea topped the list, while Japan placed last.

In terms of absolute numbers, however, India topped the list in terms of the incidence of modern slavery due to its enormous population.

International Day for the Slavery Abolition

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, December 2, commemorates the adoption of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of Prostitution by Others by the General Assembly (resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949).

This day focuses on the eradication of contemporary forms of slavery, including as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, the worst types of child labour, forced marriage, and child recruitment for use in armed conflict.

Variations on modern enslavement

Exploitation

When a minor is recruited, lured, housed, transported, given, procured, patronised, solicited, or detained to execute a commercial sex act, force, fraud, or coercion are not required. No cultural or sociological considerations can change the fact that prostitution of minors is human trafficking. In the US and most other countries, commercial sex with minors is banned. Teen sex trafficking causes permanent physical and psychological stress, sickness (including HIV/AIDS), drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, hunger, social marginalisation, and death.

Conscription

Forced labour, often termed labour trafficking, is the use of force, physical threats, psychological coercion, legal process abuse, fraud, or other coercive tactics to compel someone to work. Once someone’s labour is exploited, prior consent to work for an employer is meaningless; the employer is a trafficker and the person is a trafficking victim. Human trafficking targets migrants, but forced labour can occur within a country. Sexual exploitation of compelled or bonded female workers, especially domestic servants, is common.

Treasuries

In sex trafficking and forced labour, bonds or debts are used as coercion. Millions of human trafficking victims in South Asia may pay off family’ debts. Others are victims of traffickers or recruiters who use debt as a condition of work. Traffickers, labour agencies, recruiters, and employers in both the origin and destination countries can contribute to debt bondage by demanding high fees and interest rates. When a worker’s legal status in the destination country is tied to the company in employment-based temporary labour programmes, such situations may arise.

Slavery

Involuntary domestic slavery is a sort of human trafficking that occurs in private homes. Domestic servitude is mistreatment and underpayment of domestic workers. Domestic workers lack advantages like a day off. Working in private families isolates and risks them. Labor regulators can’t inspect home-based jobs. Sexual and gender-based violence affects domestic workers, especially women. These signs suggest domestic servitude. Servitude is more prevalent when an employer has diplomatic, civil, or criminal immunity.

Childslavery

Some forms of child labour are lawful, yet some children are in slavery or near servitude. Child forced labour occurs when a non-family member forces a child to work for someone outside the youngster’s family and doesn’t let the child leave. Anti-trafficking tactics shouldn’t substitute rehabilitation and education. Children’s exploiters should face criminal punishments, not administrative remedies.

Illegal child soldiers

Child soldiering is a sign of human trafficking when armed forces recruit or use minors as combatants or labour. Government, paramilitaries, or rebels may be responsible. Child soldiers are abducted. Porters, chefs, guards, servants, couriers, and spies are others. Commanders and adult troops rape or “marry” young women. Armed groups sexually exploit child soldiers, who suffer the same physical and psychological effects as child sex trafficking victims.

Reasons for Modern Slavery

Money is the leading reason for modern slavery. Human trafficking is projected to produce $150 billion annually. Over a third of that amount is produced in what the majority of people consider to be developed nations, such as the United States and the European Union.

Poverty

Poverty fuels modern slavery. Slavery thrives in chaotic, lawless, weak, and uneducated cultures.

Poor Schooling

Education affects modern slavery greatly. It’s why many nations and people are destitute. A lack of knowledge is only an issue in slavery if it hinders a person’s social status. It affects people’s ability to move to industrialised countries. Illiteracy helps modern slavery thrive. A non-reader lacks the knowledge to impact their own independence.

Migration

False promises trap many modern-day slave women. Promised better lives in other countries, they’re forced into domestic work or prostitution. Migration enslavement includes debt servitude. Whoever carried the person must pay with labour. Modern slavers threaten and abuse their victims to keep them in this condition.

Femicide

More women are enslaved because of gender bias. Girls and women are often enslaved for home work or sex trafficking. Many countries have uneven or no women’s rights. In some countries, women and girls are considered inferior to men and given less advantages.

Methods to Stop Slavery

Learn

It’s okay to not know much about modern slavery or how it impacts millions. Learn about modern-day slaves and how to help them online. Once you’re conscious, you have a powerful instrument.

Be informed

Many companies use low-wage workers in unsafe, unsanitary factories overseas. This can cause forced labour and child slavery. Perform a simple search to learn what your chosen brands are doing to stop slavery to ensure your money is being spent ethically. Choose a company that ensures freedom and equal rights at every stage of production.

Support anti-slavery organisations

Education and money are needed to eradicate slavery in our lifetime. Donating to a frontline organisation is an easy way to help. Top charities, like Restavek Freedom, have international sections with the cultural expertise and employees to release slaves.

Vote

Consider what you can do as a member of a local religious or philanthropic organisation to help end slavery in our lifetime. Sharing your passion can push others to act.

Share

We must scream for slaves when required. This may involve posting educational information and organisations on social media to educate others.

Volunteer

Consider what you can do after learning about slavery. Volunteer with a local anti-trafficking organisation or contact city services to learn about local resources for victims of human trafficking and slavery. You can make an impact without travelling abroad.

Children’s sponsorship

Children are not the only enslaved group, but they are the most vulnerable, especially in poor countries like Haiti.

Conclusion

If the majority of the country’s population lives under contemporary slavery or conditions like slavery, it will be unable to accomplish its sustainable development goals. According to Sheryl WuDunn, “the tools exist to eradicate modern slavery, but the political will is absent.” To make the country a better place to live, it is time for the government to take appropriate action against forced labour, forced marriage, and human trafficking.