Every year, on December 2, the United Nations observes the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. This day aims to shed light on the phenomenon of modern slavery in its various forms, including human trafficking, forced labor, forced marriage, and the exploitation of children in armed conflicts. It is also a global opportunity to reaffirm the international community’s commitment to eradicating all forms of slavery that continue to affect millions of people worldwide.

• The Independent: The slavery of foreign workers continues in Qatar

• A British government program to support refugees from Syria, Sudan, and Yemen and integrate them into the job market

Millions of people around the world still suffer from disguised forms of slavery and slavery-like practices in the modern era, facing the risks of poverty and isolation.

According to estimates by the International Labour Organization (ILO), forced labor and forced marriage significantly increased between 2016 and 2021. Approximately 50 million people are currently trapped in modern slavery, with 28 million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriages.

• Returned from Death: A Decade of Struggle for the Reunification of Missing Yazidis

• Human rights organization reports the killing of dozens of Afghans by Iranian border guards

The term “modern slavery” is not legally recognized but refers to practices that exploit individuals in ways they cannot escape or refuse due to threats, violence, or deception. Women and children are the most vulnerable groups. Forms of modern slavery include forced labor, child labor, and human trafficking.

No region is free from modern slavery practices. The Asia-Pacific region records the highest number (15.1 million), followed by Europe and Central Asia (4.1 million), Africa (3.8 million), and the Americas (3.6 million).

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In Arab countries, approximately 0.9 million people are trapped in conditions akin to slavery, making forced labor more prevalent in this region (5.3 per 1,000 people) compared to Europe and Central Asia (4.4), the Americas and Asia-Pacific (both 3.5), or Africa (2.9).

Modern slavery transcends race, culture, and religion. More than 52% of all forced labor and 25% of forced marriages occur in upper-middle-income or high-income countries.

• Bangladesh Protests: Judiciary Reduces “Quotas” While Students Continue

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The ILO has called for strengthened efforts to eliminate forced labor, including through a legally binding protocol that came into effect in November 2016.

• Iraq Grants Deadline for Foreign Workers to Rectify Situations 

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