50 million people are living in conditions of modern slavery — a 25% rise over the last five years, says a new report. According to it, the Group of 20 nations are contributing to this increase, as their trade operations and global supply chains allow for human rights abuses. Among the G20 nations, India tops the list with 11 million people working as forced labourers, followed by China, Russia, Indonesia, Turkey and the U.S.
Rights group Walk Free Foundation on May 24 released the Global Slavery Index 2023, an assessment of modern slavery conditions in 160 countries. The index uses data released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Walk Free, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) last year to illustrate how “modern slavery is hidden in plain sight”. The data gains significance as India holds the G20 presidency this year, with a focus on sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
Estimates show that 50 million people were living in conditions of modern slavery on any given day in 2021. While there is no singular internationally recognised definition of modern slavery, it includes practices of forced labour, forced marriage, debt bondage, commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, slavery-like practices, and the sale and exploitation of children — any situation where threats, violence, coercion and deception prevent a person from refusing or leaving.
