MODERN SLAVERY

40.3 million people are under slavery world over according to the findings of Walk Free Foundation from Western Australia. The most heinous
aspect of modern slavery is that almost all the victims are not aware of their rights at all.

An estimated 18 million people are kept as slaves in India. Many of them are under debt bondage from their land lords. Poor farmers are compelled to borrow from local money lenders to meet the exorbitant cost of farming including fertilizers, pesticides and genetically modified seeds. When these people fail to repay the money with huge interest they are brought into the trap of bondage. They also do not make any complaints as they are afraid of the potential repercussions from the authorities.

There are about 70 million slaves around the world in 2016 with 58% of them living in India, Pakistan, China, Bengladesh and Uzbekistan. An estimated 10 million of them are children. These slaves are also forced  to do illegal activities. Alongwith migrant slavery, forced prostitution is the form of slavery in US, Western Europe and Middle East. Around 22% slaves are active in the sex industry. Forced marriages are also end up in sex slavery. In the UK alone 3546 cases of such marriages were reported to the police during 2014-2016 period. Slavery can also be found in building work, cannabis farming, car washing, domestic servitude, fishing industry etc in Asian countries and Europe.

By percentage of population Uzbekistan tops with 4% followed by Combodia 1.6%, India 1.4% and Qatar 1.4%.  This index is continued in varying figures in Taiwan, Australia, Brazil, UK, USA etc. A huge percentage is also living in North Korea with the knowledge of the government.

We all may associate with the foundation to find an end to modern slavery. Walk Free Foundation is an organisation attempting to end slavery and human trafficking.
All well wishers can contact them through email.    
info@walkfreefoundation.org.

KV George