International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December

Modern slavery, encompassing forced labor, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking, affects approximately 50 million people globally.

These individuals are trapped in exploitative situations they cannot escape due to threats, violence, coercion, deception, and abuse of power. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to these forms of exploitation. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates a 10 million person increase in those impacted by modern slavery from 2016 to 2021.

Contrary to common assumptions, modern slavery is not limited to developing nations. Over half of all forced labor occurs in upper-middle or high-income countries. The private sector accounts for 86% of forced labor cases, primarily in industries like agriculture, construction, and domestic work. Forced labor generates an estimated US $236 billion in annual profits, representing stolen wages from vulnerable individuals.

December 2nd, the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, commemorates the 1949 adoption of the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others and serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight to eradicate modern slavery.