Although most people will aim to be sustainable consumers, and to purchase our products
and services ethically, it can still be difficult to ensure that every step of the supply chain is
as ethical as possible. Slavery is a dirty word – and with good reason. Many industries are
touched by it and it’s our job to commit due diligence when possible, and to turn to the
professionals if we’re not sure. There are a number of different organisations keeping an
eye on the status of world slavery, producing information about it – the Global Slavery Index
published by the Walk Free Foundation is one of them. This is our best source of
information on slavery in today’s world, even if you may think of it as something which isn’t
something that still happens.

A look into slavery 2018

The Global Slavery Index isn’t definitive, but it is a very good measure. It’s been published by
the Walk Free Foundation for a number of years, and the most recent release has an
estimated figure of 45.8 million people through 167 countries in the world. Although it’s
easy to assume that these are figures related to “far away” areas and that it doesn’t affect
you, it will be an unpleasant surprise to know that as many as 400,000 are estimated to be
living in modern slavery in the U.S, and the supply chain of products is touched by slavery
globally. 400,000 people is a huge number for a country such as the United States, but
globally as many as 40.1 million people are affected. The products most likely to be 1
affected by modern slavery and which were imported into G20 countries according to the
Foundation’s study are tech manufacturing (laptops, mobile phones, computers), garments,
fishing, cocoa, and sugarcane.

The information from the study indicates that globally, victims of slavery are found mostly in
Africa with 7.6 people per 1000 falling victim to it. Second globally was Asia and the Pacific
with 4 out of every 1000. The least prevalence was in the Americas with 0.7 people per
1000, and 0.4 people per 1000 in Europe and Central Asia.

The effects of modern slavery affect different demographics differently, and this is also
reflected in the study. Slavery in 2018 affects 40.1 million people in the world, with 71% of
them being women. Of all of these 40.1 million, 24.9 million are in forced labour.

How is global slavery being tackled from 2018 onwards?

With consumers being more aware of their personal choices and the chain of supply for
their purchases, it’s up to them and to their governments to make choices and legislation to
improve the situation for people forced into slavery. Some countries have governments
which are proactively making choices to tackle slavery, such as in Brazil and France. Others
are not doing their part to tackle slavery in their supply chains, such as India and South
Korea. Some, although they don’t currently have legislation to tackle slavery, have plans in
the works. Australia is one such place, which planned to introduce chain supply
transparency laws in 2018, according to the Index’ findings.

One way that consumers can do their part to tackle slavery when buying products is to
purchase items which are Fair Trade. This is an internationally-recognised marker on
products indicating that they come from a supply chain as free from modern slavery as
possible. Producers are checked for discriminatory hiring practises, illegalities, and for the
sustainability of their operations.