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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. Forced Labour

    Austria renews commitment to combat forced labour

    12 September 2019

  2. ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour

    ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour: First Annual Meeting

  3. Forced Labour

    Belgium joins efforts to combat forced labour

    10 September 2019

  4. Forced Labour

    Lesotho joins efforts to combat forced labour

    23 August 2019

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

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.

Sign up

  1. 50 for Freedom Campaign: Make a stand against modern slavery