Global Slavery Index 2023

News: The Walk Free Foundation’s Global Slavery Index 2023 estimates that 50 million people are subject to modern slavery, a 25% increase over the previous five years.

When someone is exploited but unable to refuse or leave because of threats, assault, compulsion, or deception, that scenario is referred to as modern slavery.

It takes the form of commercial sexual exploitation, forced employment, child labour, forced marriage, debt servitude, human trafficking, etc.

The Global Slavery Index evaluates the prevalence of contemporary slavery in 160 nations.

It makes use of information made public by organisations like the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the International Labour Organisation, etc.

The Index provides rankings for three factors: vulnerability (political instability, inequality), government reaction, and problem size (prevalence).

As India has the G20 presidency this year, with a focus on sustainable development and climate change mitigation, the 2023 index is significant.

The Global Slavery Index 2023’s highlights include:

In 2021, there were 50 million people who were subject to modern slavery on any given day.

Due to Covid-19, armed conflict, weak government, and other factors, the practise has increased in prevalence over the last five years (by 25%/10 million).

More than half of all people in modern slavery live in G20 countries, where commerce and global supply chains facilitate human rights abuses.

India tops the list of G20 countries with 11 million individuals forced into employment, followed by China, Russia, Indonesia, Turkey, and the United States.