Women And Girls At High Risk Of Being Pushed Into Modern Slavery

Women and children are at high risk of being pushed into contemporary forms of slavery,UN-appointed independentrightsexpertssaid onWednesday.

In an alertto coincide withtheInternational Day for the Abolition of Slavery on 2 December, they warned that global challenges such as COVID-19, climate change and armed conflict have amplified existing vulnerabilities.

According to figures released by UNICEF and ILO in June, almost 80 million children aged 5 to 17, are subjected to hazardous work which is classified as a contemporary form ofslavery.

Now, according tothe experts,these children may be working longer hours or under worsening conditions asaresult of the economic recession and school closures caused bythe pandemic.

Many others may have been forced into the worst forms of child labour, owingto job and income losses among their families.This includes the forced recruitment ofyoungstersinto armed and criminal groups.

Children in Burkina Faso engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in artisanal gold mining and quarrying., by © UNICEF/Christine Nesbitt

According to unofficial estimates cited by the experts, one in every 130 women and girls is subjected to contemporary forms ofslaverysuch as child and forced marriage, domestic servitude, forced labour and debt bondage.

“High levels of exploitation also prevail in global supply chains, which often rely on and reinforce labour exploitation and deepen gender inequality”, the experts said.

They argue that “gender inequalities lie at the heart of contemporary forms ofslavery”, but note that these practices are also fuelled by intersecting forms of discrimination, such as race, social and economic status, age, disability, sexual orientation, and migration status, among others.

The experts urge Member States to establish safe migration pathways, along with easieraccess to decent work andmorecooperation with the business sector, civil society organisationsandtrade unions.

For them, “accountability of perpetrators must be strengthened as a matter of priority, as currently impunity prevails in far too many instances.”

“Slaveryin all its forms needs to end for everyone, including women and children in contexts of armed conflict.Slaveryis a disgrace to humanity which in the 21stcentury cannot be tolerated”, they conclude.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms ofSlavery. This year alone, 18,000 victims received vital assistance from organizations supported by the Fund.

To mark the International Day for the Abolition ofSlavery, the experts appeal to all Member States to increase their contribution to the Fund, or to make one for the first time.

The SpecialRapporteurs are part of what is known as theSpecial Proceduresof theHuman Rights Council.Theywork on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

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