All-hands-on-deck effort needed to combat modern slavery: US professor

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, US (AA) - Modern slavery continues to increase significantly across the globe, and the United Nations wants everyone to focus on this disturbing trend as the world marks the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on Friday.

"Thinking about people in terrible circumstances and recognizing their plight is of great importance," said Amos Guiora, a law professor at University of Utah. "To be aware that this is a reality for millions and millions of people around the world. I think that more than anything else, this is a worldwide, all-hands-on-deck effort to combat modern slavery."

According to the UN, forced labor and forced marriage have skyrocketed by 10 million cases over the past five years.

The UN's International Labour Organization (ILO) said in its latest report that as of 2021, some 50 million people worldwide were victims of modern slavery, with 28 million trapped in forced labor and 22 million stuck in forced marriages.

Even more alarming, over 150 million children are said to be subjected to child labor, which accounts for roughly one in 10 children globally.

“It is shocking that the situation of modern slavery is not improving,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. “Nothing can justify the persistence of this fundamental abuse of human rights."

The ILO emphasized that women and children remained disproportionately vulnerable when it came to being victims of slavery.

Compared to 2016 global estimates, 10 million more people were victims of modern slavery in 2021, with women and children making up a significant portion of that number.

The UN pointed out that modern slavery occurs in almost every country in the world and "cuts across ethnic, cultural and religious lines."

In addition, it said victims of modern slavery are not just limited to the poor and underprivileged. More than half (52%) of all forced labor and a quarter of all forced marriages can be found in upper-middle income or high-income countries.

Other forms of modern slavery include human trafficking, sex trafficking and forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflicts.

Eighty-six percent of forced labor cases are found in the private sector, with forced commercial sexual exploitation representing 23% and with nearly four out of five victims being females.

State-imposed forced labor accounts for 14%, of which nearly one in eight victims (3.3 million people) are children. More than half are victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

"I think that for those who are most in need, it is important to shine a very bright and very powerful flashlight on those victims, and simultaneously shine a bright light on those who are involved in taking part in these horrible crimes," said Guiora, who researches and writes about enablers and bystanders in sexual abuse of children.

Guiora told Anadolu Agency by phone that even though such atrocities exist 365 days a year, it is crucial for people around the world to take advantage of even just one day to highlight the prevalence of modern slavery in present-day society.

"It's important because the more attention we can shine on this, the brighter the beam that can be shown on slavery, sex slavery, sex slaves, and forced marriages that are a horrible reality for millions and millions of people around the world," he said. "It provides victims a chance for us to better understand their situation to hopefully get some help to improve their lives by illuminating or highlighting the terrible travails affecting so many people around the world."

The UN estimates that 22 million people were living in forced marriages in 2021, representing a 6.6 million increase from 2016 global estimates.

But the true incidence of forced marriage, particularly involving children aged 16 and younger, is likely far greater than estimates reveal, since they are based on a narrow definition that excludes some child marriages. The UN said they are considered forced because a minor cannot legally consent to marry.

Forced marriages are highly context-specific because they are linked to long-established patriarchal attitudes, traditions and practices. The report shows that more than 85% are driven by family pressure.

Based on regional population size, 65% of forced marriages are found in Asia and the Pacific.

Arab states have the highest prevalence, with nearly five out of every 1,000 people in the region in a forced marriage.

The UN said that any of these abhorrent forms of slavery basically refer to "situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception and/or abuse of power."

Alongside traditional forms of forced labor such as bonded labor and debt bondage, the ILO said more contemporary forms of forced labor now exist, such as migrant workers who have been trafficked for economic exploitation of every kind in the world economy including domestic servitude, the construction industry, the food and garment industry, the agricultural sector and forced prostitution.

“Effective national policies and regulations are fundamental," the ILO said in a statement. “We know what needs to be done, and we know it can be done."

But the ILO said governments cannot do it alone.

"Trade unions, employers' organizations, civil society and ordinary people all have critical roles to play.”

When the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is over, there are still 364 days of the year in which these problems need to be addressed and solutions to stop these abhorrent practices need to be made.

It is not going to happen overnight.

"There obviously is not a magic formula, a magic solution other than the constant drumbeat of the attention that this issue demands," said Guiora.

"There are no quick fixes here for modern slavery, which is frustrating, but that's the unfortunate reality of this problem."