19.06.19
The Shocking Numbers Behind the Global Modern Slavery.
We might like to think that slavery is a thing of the past, but in fact in the 21st century the opposite is true. There are over 54 million people across the world caught up in the modern-day slave trade, according to a new report. Modern slavery affects vulnerable people fleeing war zones, some of whom are tricked into marriage with promises of a better life, only to have all their rights and freedom taken away. Modern slavery contravenes human rights and labour rights. Forced marriage, forced labour and people trafficking all count as types of slavery. While modern slavery can take many forms, what victims all have in common is that they are threatened or abused or tricked into marriage or work.
Forced marriage : The report, which is based on research by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Walk Free Foundation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), estimates that at any given time in 2016, there were 15.4 million people living in a forced marriage. Over one third of those (37%) were children when they got married, many of them under the age of 15. Almost all of those forced to marry were women and girls (84%).
Forced labour : The report also estimates that at any given time in 2016, there were 16 million people in forced labour, the majority of whom were women (59%). They were most likely to be involved in domestic work, construction or manufacturing. Forced labour can occur in many forms. Over half of people forced to work are doing so because they are in debt to those they are working for. But often, victims suffer more than one type of coercion. Nearly one-quarter of victims (24%) were told that their wages would be withheld if they left. One third (29%) were threatened with violence, either to them or their families, and 16% were subjected to physical violence, which included acts of sexual violence.
Forced marriage : The report, which is based on research by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Walk Free Foundation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), estimates that at any given time in 2016, there were 15.4 million people living in a forced marriage. Over one third of those (37%) were children when they got married, many of them under the age of 15. Almost all of those forced to marry were women and girls (84%).
Forced labour : The report also estimates that at any given time in 2016, there were 16 million people in forced labour, the majority of whom were women (59%). They were most likely to be involved in domestic work, construction or manufacturing. Forced labour can occur in many forms. Over half of people forced to work are doing so because they are in debt to those they are working for. But often, victims suffer more than one type of coercion. Nearly one-quarter of victims (24%) were told that their wages would be withheld if they left. One third (29%) were threatened with violence, either to them or their families, and 16% were subjected to physical violence, which included acts of sexual violence.
Poverty deprives people of adequate education, health care and of life's most basic necessities- safe living conditions (including clean air and clean drinking water) and an adequate food supply. The developed (industrialized) countries today account for roughly 20 percent of the world's population but control about 80 percent of the world's wealth.
Poverty and pollution seem to operate in a vicious cycle that, so far, has been hard to break. Even in the developed nations, the gap between the rich and the poor is evident in their respective social and environmental conditions.
Poverty and pollution seem to operate in a vicious cycle that, so far, has been hard to break. Even in the developed nations, the gap between the rich and the poor is evident in their respective social and environmental conditions.
