Today, more people live in slavery than ever before

Slavery is not merely a historical relic, it happens today and everywhere. 40 million in modern slavery and 152 million in child labour around the world.

Facts and Figures by the International Labour Organisation:

• At any given time in 2016, an estimated 40.3 million people are in modern slavery, including 24.9 in forced labour and 15.4 million in forced marriage.
• It means there are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in the world.
• 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.
• Out of the 24.9 million people trapped in forced labour, 16 million people are exploited in the private sector such as domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million persons in forced sexual exploitation, and 4 million persons in forced labour imposed by state authorities.
• Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors

Source: Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage , Geneva, September 2017 

Read full report here

The United Nations commemorates international slavery abolition day the today's slaves with an annual international slavery abolition day on December 2nd. 

The 50 for Freedom Campaign strives for convincing the UN member states to sign the protocol on forced labour to end modern slavery.