Modern day slavery
Encyclopedia
The number of slaves today remains as high as 12 million
to 27 million, though this is probably the smallest proportion of the world's population in the history of civilization, as slavery was unknown prior in paleolithic times. Most are debt slaves
, largely in South Asia
, who are under debt bondage
incurred by lenders, sometimes even for generations. Human trafficking
is primarily for prostituting women
and child
ren into sex industries
. It is the fastest growing criminal industry
and is predicted to eventually outgrow drug trafficking
.
Total annual revenues of traffickers were estimated in 2004 to range from US $5 billion to US $9 billion. Due to the illegal nature of trafficking and differences in methodology, the exact extent and growth of the industry is unknown. According to United States Department of State
data, an "estimated 600,000 to 820,000 men, women, and children [are] trafficked across international borders each year, approximately 70 percent are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors. The data also illustrates that the majority of transnational victims are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation." However, they go on to say that "the alarming enslavement of people for purposes of labor exploitation, often in their own countries, is a form of human trafficking that can be hard to track from afar."
as children, later reported conditions of enslavement to the Metropolitan Police Service
(MPS) as adults. In 2010, the MPS was ordered to pay damages to each of the women for failing to undertake an effective investigation. The MPS said in a statement that the way in which such crimes are investigated had changed significantly since the introduction of a unit dedicated to human trafficking and immigration offences.
Million
One million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...
to 27 million, though this is probably the smallest proportion of the world's population in the history of civilization, as slavery was unknown prior in paleolithic times. Most are debt slaves
Debt bondage
Debt bondage is when a person pledges him or herself against a loan. In debt bondage, the services required to repay the debt may be undefined, and the services' duration may be undefined...
, largely in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, who are under debt bondage
Debt bondage
Debt bondage is when a person pledges him or herself against a loan. In debt bondage, the services required to repay the debt may be undefined, and the services' duration may be undefined...
incurred by lenders, sometimes even for generations. Human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
is primarily for prostituting women
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
and child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren into sex industries
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. It is the fastest growing criminal industry
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
and is predicted to eventually outgrow drug trafficking
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
.
Total annual revenues of traffickers were estimated in 2004 to range from US $5 billion to US $9 billion. Due to the illegal nature of trafficking and differences in methodology, the exact extent and growth of the industry is unknown. According to United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
data, an "estimated 600,000 to 820,000 men, women, and children [are] trafficked across international borders each year, approximately 70 percent are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors. The data also illustrates that the majority of transnational victims are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation." However, they go on to say that "the alarming enslavement of people for purposes of labor exploitation, often in their own countries, is a form of human trafficking that can be hard to track from afar."
United Kingdom
Four women, who arrived in London from NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
as children, later reported conditions of enslavement to the Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
(MPS) as adults. In 2010, the MPS was ordered to pay damages to each of the women for failing to undertake an effective investigation. The MPS said in a statement that the way in which such crimes are investigated had changed significantly since the introduction of a unit dedicated to human trafficking and immigration offences.
External links
- UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of slavery
- The CNN Freedom Project: Ending Modern-Day Slavery, CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...