What is Modern Slavery?

Modern slavery is an umbrella term that includes practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, human trafficking, forced marriage, the worst forms of child labour, servitude, and slavery itself (1). Though not reducible to the definition of slavery, it almost always includes the subjugation of a human at the deprivation of their autonomy and profit. In short, it is a person exploited and reduced to utility by another person or group.

A conservative estimate of people in modern slavery completed in 2016 was 40.3 million, with 71% of these being women and girls, and 25% children (2). Interestingly, the 10 countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery are also places that suffer from civil conflict and oppressive regimes (3). It is important to note, however, that G20 countries are also responsible for the propagation of modern slavery. Laptops, computers, and mobile phones, along with garments, account for $327.7 billion US for the products imported into G20 countries that are at risk of involving modern slavery (4). It is clear that any serious approach tackling modern slavery must also involve commitment from stable and economically strong countries.

More positively, the legal ownership of people is prohibited in all countries. Notwithstanding, almost half of all countries have not criminalised slavery (5), and many are either not enforcing legislation or ignorant of its existence. Where slavery prior to the abolitionists was obvious, much of modern slavery remains hidden under complex supply chains. Ensuring no individual is at risk of modern slavery demands awareness of these layered complexities, as well as a conviction to pursue ethically sourced and made goods.

While this all sounds dire, it is the personal accounts of those suffering through modern slavery that are most disturbing and stir a call to action. Data alone cannot reveal the burden of being held captive on a fishing vessel and forced to work 20 hour days at threat of violence (6). Nor can it illustrate being trafficked across Africa and sold into prostitution (7), or raised on a brick kiln working 7 days a week in blistering heat (8). Circumstances like these are all too commonplace and deserve our utmost efforts to prevent.

Jordan Sala Tenna

7–9-2022

1. Department of Home Affairs, “People Smuggling and Human Trafficking,” Criminal Justice, June 14, 2022, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/criminal-justice/Pages/modern-slavery.aspx. (accessed September 7, 2022).

2. Walk Free, “Highlights,” Global Slavery Index, https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/findings/highlights/. (accessed September 6, 2022).

3. Walk Free, “Global Findings,” Global Slavery Index, https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/findings/global-findings/. (accessed September 7, 2022).

4. Walk Free, “Highlights,” Global Slavery Index, https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/findings/highlights/. (accessed September 6, 2022).

5. Katarina Schwarz, Jean Allain, Andrea Nicholson, “Slavery is Not a Crime in Almost Half of the World – Here’s Why,” Independent, February 25, 2020, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/slavery-legal-crime-forced-labour-un-legislation-a9333891.html?amp. (accessed September 8, 2022).

6. Steve Dow, “’Such Brutality’: Tricked Into Slavery in the Thai Fishing Industry,” The Guardian, September 22, 2019, https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/21/such-brutality-tricked-into-slavery-in-the-thai-fishing-industry. (accessed September 8, 2022).

7. “The Human tragedy Behind Human Trafficking,” Blue Heart Campaign, https://www.unodc.org/documents/blueheart/testimonials.pdf. (accessed September 8, 2022).

8. Reza Sayah, “Bricked in by Debt, Pakistans’ Child ‘Slaves,’” CNN, November 25, 2009, http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/11/25/pakistan.bonded.labor/index.html?_s=PM:WORLD