50 million people are in forced labour or forced marriage globally. These are men, women and children who are forced to work or to marry because of threats, violence, deception or abuse of power. An estimated 28 million people are in situations of forced labour, and a further 22 million people are in forced marriages.
This is a significant increase over the last five years. Women and children are particularly vulnerable. More than two thirds of those forced to marry are female, and almost three quarters are younger than fifteen.
Migrants are more likely to be in forced labour or to be trafficked than other groups. And more than 3 million children are in forced labour, half of them in commercial sexual exploitation. Modern slavery occurs in almost every country in the world.
In fact, more than half of all forced labour occurs in upper middle or high income countries. Entrapment in forced labour can last years, while in most cases a forced marriage is a life sentence. But it doesn't have to be this way.
We know what needs to be done. With the right policies and action, we can all help end modern slavery. See what role you can play by checking out the latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery.
