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Forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking

  • Landmark Forced Labour Protocol enters into force

    "Ratifying countries are now obliged to implement the treaty and report on measures taken." Committee on Forced Labour, ILC 2014.

  • Sign up to end modern slavery

    24.9 million people in forced labour. $150 billion in illegal profits. Support the international treaty to end modern slavery for good.

  • Lured by a job, trapped in forced labour

    In search of a job to support his family, a man accepts an offer from a recruiter and signs a contract for what looks like a good job with decent wages. Once at destination, the reality is very different.

  • Fair recruitment Initiative

    There are 232 million international migrants and 740 million internal migrants. Most are migrating in search of decent employment and a better livelihood.
    Migrant workers who borrow money from third parties face an increased risk of being in forced labour.

  • Alliance 8.7: For a world without forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour

    About 24.9 million people globally are victims of forced labour. Some 152 million children are in child labour, about half in its worst forms, primarily hazardous work. Alliance 8.7 is a coalition committed to accelerating and intensifying actions to tackle this problem and achieve Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7.

Facts and figures

  • At any given time in 2016, an estimated 40.3 million people are in modern slavery, including 24.9 million in forced labour and 15.4 million in forced marriage.
  • It means there are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in the world.
  • 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.
  • Out of the 24.9 million people trapped in forced labour, 16 million people are exploited in the private sector such as domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million persons in forced sexual exploitation, and 4 million persons in forced labour imposed by state authorities.
  • Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors
Source: Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage, Geneva, September 2017.

News

  1. Human Rights Day - December 10

    Mrunal Thakur tells harrowing real-life story of forced prostitution

    10 December 2018

  2. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery - December 2

    Freida Pinto gives a voice to a girl trapped in modern slavery

    30 November 2018

  3. Forced and child labour

    Major progress on forced labour and child labour in Uzbekistan cotton fields

    22 November 2018

  4. Workshop

    Eliminating child and forced labour in the cotton, textile and garment value chains

List all

Focus on

  1. The global initiative for Fair Recruitment

  2. 2030 Agenda for sustainable development

    Towards target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and end child labour in all its forms

ILO labour standards on forced labour

  1. Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
    ► Ratifications
  2. Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (P029)
    ► Ratifications
  3. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
    ► Ratifications
  4. Forced Labour Recommendation, 2014 (No. 203)
  1. More information on international labour standards on forced labour

It's time to ratify the ILO's Forced Labour Protocol

  1. The new legally-binding ILO Protocol on Forced Labour aims to strengthen global efforts towards combating forced labour, trafficking and slavery-like practices. Governments now have the opportunity to ratify the Protocol and integrate new measures at the national and regional levels to combat this crime.