News Sharing Narrative Submitted by: Cheryl Peñaverde-Ilarde

Subject: Human Rights Law Submitted to: Prof. Irene D. Valones

News Report Title: 50 million people in modern slavery: No justification for ‘fundamental’
human rights abuse1

Millions of people around the world are in slavery.

According to Slavery Convention2, signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926, and which our
country, Philippines, is a participant, slavery is defined as "the status or condition of a person
over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised.3"

Through the passing of time, as we enter the new era of technology and cyberspace, many of us
thought that slavery is just but a historical relic. This, sadly is not the case.

The latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, published by the International Labour

Organization4, International Organization for Migration5, and international human rights group
Walk Free6, revealed that last year, some “50 million people were living in modern slavery: 28
million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriages.7”

This number is particularly shocking when you consider that it's already 2022 and slavery was
officially abolished over two hundred years ago. Modern slavery doesn't have a legal definition, but
it covers many different practices such as forced labor, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human
trafficking. Slavery is a fundamental violation of human rights. There is no justification for it. No
culture, religion or tradition can be used to excuse or condone slavery in any form.

So why does it still exist? What justifies this ongoing human rights violation? In this essay, I'll
explore these questions and discuss some potential solutions.

Reasons Why Slavery Persists

There are a number of factors that contribute to the persistence of slavery in the world today. One of
the main reasons is that slavery is profitable. Slaves can be forced to work long hours for little or no
pay, which generates a lot of profit for those who own them. Additionally, slaves are seen as
commodities that can be bought and sold like any other product. This makes them easy to exploit and
hard to protect.

Another reason why slavery persists is because it is often hidden from view. Slaves may be forced to
work in hidden locations, such as private homes or brothels, which makes it difficult for authorities to
1
UN News
2
United Nations Treaty Collection
3
Slavery Convention Article 1.1
4
https://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm
5
https://www.iom.int
6
https://www.walkfree.org
7
Global Estimates of Modern Slavery
detect them. Additionally, slaves may be afraid to speak out or report their situation for fear of
retribution from their captors. This makes it hard to estimate the true scope of the problem and track
its prevalence.

Finally, many people around the world do not believe that slavery still exists or they think that it only
happens in other countries. This complacency prevents people from taking action against this gross
human rights violation.

What Can Be Done To End Slavery?

According to IOM Director-General António Vitorino, “All of society must work together to
“reverse these shocking trends.”8

That is correct.

Given the complex nature of the issue, there is no easy solution to ending slavery but for us to work
together. There are a number of things that can be done to help address the problem. First, it is
important to increase awareness about the issue and let people know that slavery still exists right here
in our own communities. Second, we need to support organizations that are working to combat
slavery both here at home and abroad. Finally, we need to hold businesses accountable for ensuring
that their supply chains are free of slave labor and encourage others to do the same.

Conclusion

It's hard to believe that slavery still exists in the world today, but the sad reality is that it does. There is
no justification for this fundamental human rights abuse. Slavery deprives people of their freedom and
dignity, and it robs them of their future prospects. To combat this gross human rights violation, we
need to work together in increasing awareness, supporting anti-slavery organizations, and holding
businesses accountable for their role in perpetuating slavery through their supply chains.

It's time to put an end to this appalling practice once and for all.

8
News.un.org