Modern Slavery, the shocking numbers

Slavery is forced labor. But traffickers don't generally use the term slave, they use terms such as:
- debt bondage
- bonded labor
- attached labor
- restavec
- forced labor
- indentured servitude

But the numbers are heartbreaking:

Globally, some 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year, according to a 2007 report from the U.S. State Department. Of that number, more than 70% are female and half are children. However, a 2009 United Nations report stated that around 20% of all trafficking victims are children.

www.cnn.com

CNN has been running the Freedom project with highlights on slavery. And I think this issue has been comding to the forefront more and more. There are more slaves today then any other time in history. And the fact that most are women and children is just sad and heart wrenching. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it is happening.Teh mail order bride problem is coming to the front more and more.

A few months ago I was buying a drink in a gas station when I saw an ugly white guy in his 60-70s with his arm around a scantily clad Polynesian girl who was probably barely 21. She looked down and had her arms wrapped around her. I wondered if she even had a choice in the situation.
A trafficked human could of been there for display for all to look at.

I can't even imagine being in a scenario where hundreds of people see you a week, but no one can recongize you as a slave.


But that is the thing, it is one thing to have the problem brought up, but how do you spot it? And who do you call?
The situation immediately struck me as odd and out of sync, I doubt I was the only one who noticed. But just what do you do?
It is reported that 18,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year. But other then being told to donate to Unicef or a Freedom foundation, there doesn't seem to be much that the average citizen can do.

CNN has ran other stories of slavery such as the 500 people in India who were found locked in brick kilns that were just rescued by the government, or the little boy forced to make 500 bricks a day to repay a families debt.

In Africa, slavery is still rampant.

the country where slavery is still normal~ The Atlantic

The Modern West African Slave Trade

Sometimes referred to as bonded laborers (because of the debts owed their masters), public perception of modern slavery is often confused with reports of workers in low-wage jobs or inhumane working conditions. However, modern-day slaves differ from these workers because they are actually held in physical bondage (they are shackled, held at gunpoint, etc.).

Read more: Slavery in the Modern World — Infoplease.com www.infoplease.com...

Slavery really is a horrible thing, may i ask Nixie, do you consider another form of slavery to be, For example, Young people who can only get a low income job, with little to no prospects, With this low income job they cannot afford alot more than what they need, Do you consider that to be slavery ? I believe it effectively is, Of course not as bad as the slavery you are highlighting in this thread, but none the less, most have no choice, they can either work hard for the little they can get, or they can leave, if they leave, theres another young person waiting to fill their shoes for the same low pay etc.. If someone is to not abide by this system, they are looked down upon, parents may say they are 'dissapointed' that they 'sold themselves short' i fail to agree with this view as clearly parents and there children nowadays have very different viewpoints on whats 'right & wrong' & what the parents consider to be 'achieving something for yourself' different minded people may see this as 'selling themselves short' Effectively wasting there life away into someone else's idea of what there life should be like.

To be honest that example doesnt even need to be for young people, just for low income un prosperous jobs in general.

where does one buy a slave?
i've been looking for a good deal. i need some one to clean my car its a mess

reply to post by Vanishr


I don't think the term slavery that ATSers like to throw around is the same. And flame me all you want, I think it belittles and minimizes true slavery. Yes we have to work hard for what we get, but first world countries get a lot.
Having actually witness poverty, even the poverty stricken poor in the US have far more then a lot of natives in a lot of countries. And for all those crying that they are forced to work, there are probably 2 billion poverty stricken people out there who would love to have their job.
A low income job in the US still provides far far more then a lot of jobs in second and third world countries. And a lot of people should be ashamed of themselves for thinking they have it "bad".
If you haver running water and electricity, you are still doing far better then a lot of people.

reply to post by nixie_nox


Do you not think that the current system is deliberately employed to keep people working at such a low level, i understand what your saying & i was not implying that these people stuck in these jobs are in a worse or equally worse position to these genuine slaves, but society is stuck in this complete rut, if you dont think of something alot more outside the box, its extremely hard to work your way up to anything good in regards to a job that others would consider an 'achievement' Unless you've got years of your life to waste searching and training, With the world economy going the way it is, its not a good time for the job market, so what are the unemployed to do & what about the chronically unemployable because they've been out of the job market for a few years ?

reply to post by Vanishr


I am not saying that unemployment isn't a problem. But that is still not the same as slavery. That is a whole nother economic problem in themselves. Do I think that the higher education system is a racket and keeps people down? Certainly. But that is still not the same as slavery.

What did you do when you saw the young lady with the old dude? Your intuition told you something was amiss, what did you do?

reply to post by nixie_nox

I am not saying that unemployment isn't a problem. But that is still not the same as slavery

Unemployment isn't slavery, but it is directly related to slavery -- I had a map, I'll see if I can dig it up, but on the map places with the highest unemployment [poverty] always had the highest amount of women and children that were being trafficked.

Also if you look at the govts of the nations with the highest rates if human trafficking, they always have had a horrible track record of protecting human rights and a lot of the time you will probably find some type of state backing for the traffickers.

Thank you for bringing up this topic. Many people are oblivious to or underestimate the issue of modern slavery. I once went to a human trafficking conference presented by Shared Hope International. It was an eye-opening and heartbreaking awakening. Many massage parlor girls, prostitutes, strippers, pornography actresses, and call girls are actually sex slaves with no real hope of escape. It is disgusting and infuriating, but if we keep turning a blind eye to the issue, it will never be solved.

reply to post by Vanishr


I think it is fair to say that most slaves do not enjoy life and by using your idea of a slave, low income people do not enjoy life either. False there are many people in fact probably the majority of low income people who enjoy life. Heated and cooled homes, running water, electricity, tv all things that most low income people have. I have been to partys and picnics with low income people and they seemed just as happy as the middle class and were having more of my kinda fun than the upper income people I know. Yes I know there are negative aspects of being low income but hey that's life... try to help someone who needs help but don't talk down and lump low income people as slaves because it makes them feel less important and shows you to miss the humanity that they are.