The number of people falling victim to modern slavery is estimated to have risen significantly in recent years. This is according to the latest Global Slavery Index of the human rights organization Walk Free, which was published on Wednesday in London. According to the report, 50 million people worldwide are trapped in modern slavery – ten million more than five years ago.

According to the report, people who have to leave their homes due to climate change, conflicts and intense weather events are particularly at risk of being exploited. A worldwide restriction of women's rights, as well as the economic and social effects of the Corona pandemic, are also exacerbating the situation.

According to the report, modern slavery is most widespread in North Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

But there are also many people who are exploited in the most important industrialised and emerging countries of the G20. In India alone, according to the report, the figure is estimated to be 11 million; There are 5 million in China, 1.8 million in Russia, 1.3 million in Turkey and 1.1 million in the United States.

Goods produced under duress

However, the human rights activists are also critical of the import of goods, which are often produced in conditions based on coercion or dependence. According to the report, so-called risk products worth 468 billion US dollars (the equivalent of about 434 billion euros) are imported into the G20 countries every year. These include electronics, apparel and palm oil, among others. The human rights activists believe that the G20 must therefore indirectly attribute half of all victims of modern slavery through its supply chains.

"Modern slavery permeates every aspect of our society. It's woven into our clothes, illuminates our electronics and spices up our food," said Walk Free's founding director, Grace Forrest, according to a statement.

In addition to laws to prevent modern slavery in supply chains, human rights activists are also calling on governments to integrate the fight against modern slavery more into the areas of humanitarian aid and the development of a green economy. When cooperating with repressive regimes, care must be taken to ensure that trade, business and investment do not contribute to or benefit from state-imposed forced labour. In addition, children, especially girls, must be better protected by enabling schooling and preventing forced marriages.

According to its website, the Australian-based organization Walk Free draws on the expertise of statisticians, criminologists, lawyers and development aid experts for its report.