According to the ILO, there are 22 million forced marriages and 28 million forced labourers worldwide

Almost one in eight of all those in forced labour are children (3.3 million). More than half of these are in commercial sexual exploitation.

Digital Desk: According to the most recent Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, fifty million people were living in modern slavery in 2021. Of these people, 28 million were forced to work and 22 million were forced to marry.

In the last five years, the number of people in modern slavery has increased significantly. In 2021, there will be 10 million more people in modern slavery than in 2016. Women and children continue to face disproportionate risks.

Modern slavery exists in almost every country on the planet and crosses ethnic, cultural, and religious boundaries. More than half of all forced labour and a quarter of all forced marriages occur in upper-middle and high-income countries.

Forced labour

The majority of cases of forced labour (86%) are found in the private sector. Forced labour in non-commercial sexual exploitation sectors accounts for 63% of all forced labour, while forced commercial sexual exploitation accounts for 23% of all forced labour. Women and girls make up nearly four out of every five victims of forced commercial sexual exploitation.

State-imposed forced labour accounts for 14% of all forced labourers.

Almost one in eight of all those in forced labour are children (3.3 million). More than half of these are in commercial sexual exploitation.

Forced marriage

On any given day in 2021, an estimated 22 million people were subjected to forced marriage. This represents a 6.6 million increase over global estimates from 2016.

The true incidence of forced marriage, particularly among children aged 16 and under, is likely to be far higher than current estimates can capture; these are based on a narrow definition and do not include all child marriages. Because a child cannot legally give consent to marry, child marriages are considered forced.

Forced marriage is deeply rooted in long-standing patriarchal attitudes and practices, and it is highly context-dependent. Family pressure drove the vast majority of forced marriages (more than 85 percent). Although Asia and the Pacific account for two-thirds (65%) of all forced marriages, when regional population size is taken into account, the Arab States have the highest prevalence, with 4.8 people out of every 1,000 in the region forced to marry.

Migrants are particularly vulnerable to forced labour.

Migrant workers are more than three times more likely to be subjected to forced labour than non-migrant adult workers. While labour migration has a generally positive impact on individuals, households, communities, and societies, this finding highlights how migrants are particularly vulnerable to forced labour and trafficking, whether as a result of irregular or poorly governed migration or unfair and unethical recruitment practices.

"It is shocking that modern slavery's situation is not improving. Nothing can justify the continuation of this fundamental violation of human rights," said Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization. "We know what needs to be done and that it is doable." National policies and regulations must be effective. However, governments cannot do it alone. International standards serve as a solid foundation, and an all-hands-on-deck approach is required. Trade unions, employer organizations, civil society, and ordinary citizens all play critical roles."

IOM Director-General António Vitorino stated: "This study highlights the need of ensuring that all migration is secure, regular, and orderly. At all stages of the migration process, regardless of their immigration status, reducing the vulnerability of migrants to forced labour and human trafficking is primarily dependent on national policy and legal frameworks that respect, protect, and uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants and potential migrants. To reverse these terrible trends, the entire society must come together, including through the adoption of the Global Compact on Migration.

Ending Modern slavery

The paper makes a number of suggestions for steps that, if implemented rapidly and collectively, would represent a substantial step toward eradicating modern slavery. A few of these are boosting legal protections, including raising the marriage age to 18 without exception, enhancing laws and labour inspections, removing state-imposed forced labour, and taking tougher action against forced labour and human trafficking in industries and supply chains. Other solutions include tackling the increasing danger of forced labour and human trafficking for migrant workers, encouraging ethical and fair hiring practises, and providing more support for women, girls, and vulnerable people.