2014: countries with the most slaves

Last week, the Australian NGO Walk Free published its global slavery index 2014. Until this day, the common thoughts, based on the last statistics, was that 29,8 million people were living under slavery worldwide. It looks that they’re much more, as the survey revealed 35,8 million are enslaved today, representing an increase of 20,2 % ! Let’s see in which country the prevalence of modern slavery the highest. Here is the top 5; I’ll present the rest of the top 10 next week. Slavery fight

1. Mauritania : 155 600 out of 3,9 million people, i.e. 4%

Last year, Mauritania already was the country with the highest rate of slaves per inhabitants. Enslaved men and children typically herd camels, cows, and goats, or are forced to work in the fields, while women perform domestic chores: cooking, looking after the children, fetching water… Plus, of course, forced marriages.

During the last 12 months, the Government adopted a plan of action to counter slavery. To achieve its goal, a special tribunal has been set up especially to adjudicate cases of slavery. However, it may take a few years before the new system will be effective. Mauritania officially considers slavery as a crime since 2007, but there has been only one condemnation so far.

2. Uzbekistan : 1,2 out of 30 million people, i.e. 3,97%

Uzbekistan knew a dramatic increase: in 2013, the number of people enslaved was “only” 166 000. This is greatly explained by the fact that Uzbekistan heavily relies on cotton production and export (15% of its GDP!): when harvest time comes, government imposes forced labour to men women and child during one or two months. In 2013, eleven people found death during the harvest, resulting from being beaten, suicide or accident. Indeed the conditions of working are extreme: ten to twelve hours a day, a few minutes break, high temperatures and a limited quantity of drinking water.

As Walk Free reported it, the government agreed to work with the ILO to conduct a study on « agricultural labour hiring practices », and requested ILO assistance to ensure compliance with the ILO Convention on Forced Labour. But in a totalitarian country like Uzbekistan, it doesn’t prove that it will lead to a significant improvement.

3. Haiti : 237 700 out of 10,3 million people, i.e. 2,3%

In Haiti, most victims of slavery are children working as domestic workers in wealthier families. This is common cultural practice called the restavèk system. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and forced labor is often a way to make ends meet. Adult slaves are particularly exploited in agriculture and construction as the workload is heavier.
In 2014, the Government of Haiti enacted a new trafficking law, criminalizing the recruitment, transportation, transfer or receipt of adults and children.

4. Qatar : 29 400 out of 2,1 million people, i.e. 1,35%

Is it still useful to present Qatar? In 2022, this small emirate will host the football world cup for the first time of its history. As there’s no infrastructure, thousands of workers are coming from South-East Asia to build stadiums and roads. In Qatar there’s a special thing called “kafala system”. It means that when a stranger comes in Qatar to work, he has to give his passport to the employer, which looks more like a confiscation. Then, he can’t return home and is often subject to long hours of work in poor conditions and physical abuse.

5. India : 14,2 million out of 1.2 billion people, i.e. 1,1%

India is the country where there are the most slaves in absolute value, far exceeding China and its 3 million people enslaved. It represents 200 000 more slaves than one year before, whereas the government promised to tackle it. Slavery is partly due to the rigid caste system existing over there: members of the lowest caste (the so-called ‘untouchables’) are the most vulnerable, as well as members of racial minorities. In the textile industry, slavery has become commonplace. What happens in the Special Economic Zone of Dahej is symptomatic of what occurs in India: companies set up, attracted by taxes advantages, and workers are crammed into makeshift dwellings.

In 2014, the Ministry of Home Affairs launched the ‘anti-trafficking portal’, which includes information on criminal justice statistics, anti-trafficking police units, government and law enforcement training, the anti-trafficking legislation, and reporting mechanisms, including the ChildLine hotline number. This is a noticeable step but it’s incomplete, as it doesn’t provide any information about forced labor.

You can follow me on Twitter : @SlaveryFight

Or add me on Facebook : Guillaume Telori

Child labor, slavery: what price for the development of India? - Fight Slavery !

When a Western company decides to relocate (a part of) its activities in poorer countries, its favorite argument consists in arguing that it will bring wealth and skills elsewhere, to people who ...

http://slaveryfight.over-blog.com/2014/11/child-labor-slavery-what-price-for-the-development-of-india.html

2014 Global Slavery Index - Walk Free Foundation - Global Slavery Index 2014

This is the second edition of the Global Slavery Index, the flagship report of the Walk Free Foundation. The Global Slavery Index estimates the number of people in modern slavery in 167 countries ...

http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/