The new slavery

 

report Illustration image. Woman works on a tobacco plantation in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi / AP 

Report: Millions fall victim to modern slavery  

 

Around 50 million people worldwide were victims of modern slavery in 2021. This is stated by the human rights group Walk Free, according to Al Jazeera. It is estimated that there are 28 million people who have been forced into work and 22 million who have been forced into marriage.  

 

That's an increase of ten million people since 2016, the last time the organization released a report of this kind. North Korea, Eritrea and Mauritania stand out in a negative sense.  

 

The group's definition of "modern slavery" includes, in addition to forced labor and forced marriage, also human trafficking and the exploitation of children. 

 

Illustration image. Boy working in India 2014. Anupam Nath / Ap 

 

Rich countries import part of problem with forced labor  

 

The trade of the G20 countries is fueling "modern slavery" in the world. This is according to the charity organization Walk Free, which in a new report states that 28 million people in the world are subjected to forced labour. 

 

According to Bloomberg, for example, the countries import electronics, clothing and palm oil worth almost 500 billion dollars in 2021. These are classified as "risk goods" and are said to worsen conditions in countries that deliver.  

 

The group's director general Grace Forrest says forced labor permeates "all parts of society". 

 

- It is woven through our clothes, it lights up our electronics and spices up our food.