There are an estimated 29.8 million people are living in “modern slavery” around the world, according to data from the inaugural Global Slavery Index.
Released this week by the Walk Free Foundation – an organisation founded by Western Australian mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and his wife Nicola, the index shows that India has by far the greatest number of people living in slavery – estimated at almost 14 million, followed by China (2.9 million), Pakistan (2.1 million), Nigeria (701,000) and Ethiopia (651,000).
It’s estimated that overall, 72.14 per cent of all people living in slavery today are in Asia, 16.36 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, and 3.78 per cent in the Americas.
Countries with the highest prevalence of slavery by population size including the West African nation of Mauritania, the Caribbean state of Haiti, Pakistan, India and Nepal.
The report – which ranks 162 countries according to the estimated prevalence of “modern slavery” by population, child marriage levels and levels of human trafficking – defines “modern slavery” as including slavery like practices such as debt bondage, forced marriage and the use of child soldiers.
“Modern slavery is poorly understood, so it remains hidden within houses, communities and worksites,” says the report. “Criminals are creative and will use any available means to conceal, rationalise, and justify slavery ” be it race, ethnicity, religion, gender, caste, “custom” or any other excuse or vulnerability they can exploit.
“Modern slavery is not always as self-evident as some other crimes, such as homicide or even theft. Modern slavery involves an extreme abuse of power, which is not always immediately apparent but requires understanding the people and the relationships involved.”
The foundation hopes publication of an annual index will help governments to monitor and tackle the issue.
