Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery

In:

Submitted By
Words 443
Pages 2
Christianna Myers
Modern Day Slavery
We have all heard a lot about slavery, but it is still happening today. Thousands of men, women, and children, are still forced to work, forced into marriages, and more. Personally I believe that it is beyond wrong to force anyone to do things. Our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, had abolished it in the Americas; wouldn’t it have been great if he could have done it all over the world? In article 4 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” According to the International Labor Organization there are around 21 million people forced into labor today, although since it is illegal there is no exact count. It is a global problem especially for developing countries and poverty-stricken people, whose vulnerability is being exploited by others for the gain of profit.
According to the 1930 Forced Labor Convention slavery is “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which they said person has not offered him voluntarily.” Traditional definitions of slavery have changed and a distinction between different forms of forced labor has developed: Bonded labor, forced labor, slavery by descent, forced marriage, and child slavery. In accordance with the International Labor Rights Forum, Hundreds of thousands of workers toil without pay in Latin America, producing timber, gold and the charcoal used to make steel. Their labor goes into materials bought by major companies: including General Motors, Kohler, Toyota and Whirlpool. An estimated 30 million people worldwide are living in modern-day slavery, of which 2.1 million are in Pakistan and a staggering 14 million are based in India. India has the highest total number of enslaved people in the world, between

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery

...Modern Day Slavery Slavery – the very word sparks heated conversations. When asked, most people would say William Wilberforce ended British slavery and President Lincoln ended American slavery after the Civil War in the 1800s. Would it surprise you to know that an estimated 20-30 million (Rushton) people are trapped in modern day slavery today! It is a huge illegal business that generates an estimated $32 Billion annually (Sabyan, Smith and Tanneeru). It is very important to define what slavery is. A broadly accepted definition has been hard to define. CNN has defined as: Slavery occurs when one person completely controls another person, using violence or the threat of violence to maintain that control, exploits them economically, pays them nothing and they cannot walk away (CNN Freedom Project). Human Trafficking as defined by the U.N. Trafficking protocol as “the recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person by such means as threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, or fraud or deception for the purpose of exploitation." The definition on trafficking consists of three core elements: 1) The action of trafficking which means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons. 2) The means of trafficking which includes threat of or use of force, deception, coercion, abuse of power or position of vulnerability. 3) The purpose of trafficking which is always exploitation. In the words of the...

Words: 1064 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery

... Journal Entries In what ways are the foods we eat often intimately connected to human trafficking and slavery? Why is this practice tolerated and who is being affected by it? Were you aware of it? Source 1A & B Personally, I think any form of human trafficking and slavery no matter how minimal it is, is a serious offense against humanity and the greater good of the world in general. In Florida alone in the past years has seen thousands of people working in Florida tomato fields against their will. Additionally, in South Haven, Michigan State, companies such as Adkin Blue Ribbon Packing Company have children as young as five years old working in their blueberry fields (Patel, Hill, Eslocker, & Ross, 2009). Chemicals and pesticides used in these fields are toxic to the workers causing serious respiratory and carcinogenic diseases. Unfortunately, most of these cases go unreported. However, over the years after outcries by human activists and other human rights organizations who are against this kind of labor force, law enforcement officials have worked tirelessly over the last couple of years to free thousands of ‘slaves’ and prosecute those involved in this outrageous crime against humanity. Some of those who found themselves in these unkind working conditions had come seeking better lives for themselves and their families while others were ‘sold’ into slavery. Ironically, most Americans know and ponder over child labor as a problem everywhere else except in America...

Words: 1313 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery

...How Can We Reduce Modern Day Slavery Modern day slavery is growing at a rapid pace.We think that there is nothing we could do to stop it.Nearly 150 years later the fight to end slavery is barely on the road to stopping.An estimated 29.8 million people live in modern day slavery today.About 60,000 victims of slavery are enslaved in the U.S.The population of female slavery victims are 55%.Approximately 78% of victims are enslaved for labor,22% of victims are enslaved and wanted and used for sex.There are different examples of modern day slavery here are a couple of examples sex trafficking,forced and bonded labor,child labor,and domestic servitude.Modern Day Slavery is a growing epidemic.But now it is our job to open our eyes and realize it.We are the only ones that can put a end to it.Slowly but strongly we can stop this growing epidemic. Didn’t slavery end over 150 years ago?That is what we all thought.Today modern slavery is actually a growing epidemic that is capturing more people by the second.The legal form of slavery that took place in 1865 was eliminated (“ModernDaySlavery”).Though that stopped back then slavery that did not end the practice of one person forcing others to work.Now new forms of slavery have been taken place worldwide.The defintion of slavery that is happening now is working commercially or privately against a persons will and for the profit of another.The essence of this act antedated the United States to pick up the practice of...

Words: 745 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery

...James C Vincent II World Literature From 1650 to present Mrs. Lovenstein December 7, 2012 Modern day slavery There is a big misconception that slavery has ended all together. But slavery has only grown since the 13th amendment was ratified in 1865. The life of a slave whether American or not is a rough life. Those who go through slavery develop what is called a true slave mentality. The slave mentality has nothing to do with being chained up or beaten. Instead it is more about the actual thought process that happens when someone is a slave. For example a regular individual takes responsibility for his or her self by creating a mental structure that would be convenient to the slave’s specific life but, slaves do not spare the energy or confidence to succeed. Although slavery is less recognizable it occurs four times as much as it did in the 1800s. Fredrick Douglass lived both free and a slave but his details of slave life are still relevant in today’s contemporary slavery. A few other types of modern day slavery that is still going on today is; debt bondage, sexual slavery, child labor and wage slavery. Slavery such as debt bondage and sexual slavery is cause by unfortunate families. Families that suffered in a huge debt and wasn’t able to pay it off in one generation had to carry the balance to the next generation and to the next until it is paid off. However debt bondage is when one person gives a loan to another person and in repayment the person receiving the loan...

Words: 1165 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery Essay

...Modern Day Slavery Slavery has been in existence for countless years, primarily seen in the form of forced labor. Unfortunately, forced labor is still in existence with modern day slavery and sex slavery and child slavery are on the rise worldwide. Through human trafficking, these victims are lured, sold, transported, and trapped into the diverse system of modern day slavery. Siddharth Kara, a noted expert on human trafficking, states that “much effort in the field of combating modern slavery has focused more on anecdote and sensationalism than on actual analysis of the problem” (Forbes.com). Nonetheless, attempts have been made to abolish human trafficking and slavery. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), introduced by The United States of America, incorporate the “‘3P’ framework, which is focused on protection, prevention, and prosecution” (state.gov). And, surprising, bringing awareness to trafficking has shown to provide the...

Words: 536 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery In The United States

...Research Paper Kaleb Argentieri Mrs. Detoma 5/8/18 Research Paper Many people believe that slavery in the United States was abolished in the early 1900’s with the 13th Constitutional Amendment and no longer occurs today. Slavery occurs today and it shocks most people in many ways. Modern day slavery is extremely prevalent in the United States especially in Florida and most likely occurring close to your homes and neighborhoods. There are various types of modern day slavery. Modern day slavery consists of human trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude. Human trafficking is the action or practice of illegally transporting people from one country or area to another, typically for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation....

Words: 1160 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery Research Paper

...Slavery is dead, right? Today, approximately 21 million men, women, and children are in some form of slavery. Specifically 11.7 million are in debt bondage. Debt bondage occurs as part of a loan repayment. Often times, the person becomes tricked into working to pay off a fictitious debt for little to no pay. Debt bondage is happening all over the world, but more specifically in Africa, the Caribbean, and South-East Asia. This act of abuse goes against article four - freedom from slavery. Debt bonding is a violation of the victim’s human rights and we should work to end this modern day slavery. Many times people are promised passage to another country, and told they will be provide a job and money that could be sent back to their family. Upon...

Words: 269 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery Research Paper

...Modern day slavery India has the most slaves in the word, with a population of about 18 million (40% of slaves). In India slaves are sold on average from $300-$1,000; But another more common and not considered slavery in India is brick kilns. Most people come to the Brick kilns because they are homeless, hungry, and starving. It seems like a good idea to some because they have a job, a place to live and food to eat, but to others it’s almost forced; with no place to go no food to eat it’s die or work in the brick kilns. They make you pay off “rent” but they don't make much money working for them and end up working for at least 5 or 6 years. Working at the kilns is not good for the workers, it is very dusty and some work around hot coals....

Words: 286 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Modern Day Slavery: Human Trafficking In The United States

...Human trafficking is a global phenomenon nowadays known as modern day slavery. Human trafficking exists in the form of sex trafficking, bonded labor, slavery and similar practices. According to several researches poverty lays as the most contributing factor for being a victim of trafficking. Human Trafficking have become a billion dollar industry with investors, recruiters and public officials partnering in the business Globalization enabled easy transportation between countries due to expansion of service industry. In the meantime, these developments in service industry and transportation facilitate trafficking in person. The traffickers utilize various ways to transport them through borders. For instance, they provide high quality forged...

Words: 1429 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Understanding Contemporary Forms of Slavery

...I An Introduction to Slavery “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” - Article 4, Universal Declaration of Human Rights For most people slavery is an age old understanding of African people in shackles being captured and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, where they are sold at public auctions, however the reality is that slavery still thrives. Slavery was officially abolished during the age of enlightenment, further now it has been prohibited in all its forms in international human rights treaties, in international labour rights agreements and in almost every country worldwide. However it still persists as a grave violation of human rights in many countries. Defining Slavery It has been said that Slavery was the very first issue to draw international concern; however, there is no well-set definition of slavery which could lead us to say that over the years it has started to encompass various forms of exploitation in to the ambit of ‘slavery’. With the legal definition of slavery marginalised, people looked elsewhere to define slavery. A survey of the academic literature on modern forms of slavery would show that, it has turned to the work of Kevin Bales (one of the world's leading experts on modern slavery) and his social understanding of what constitutes slavery. For more than fifteen years, Kevin Bales has attempted to build discussions on modern forms of slavery and propose an agenda...

Words: 4163 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

Fight Against Mordern Slavery

...RIGHTS AGAINST COMTEMPORARY SLAVERY (DOMESTIC WORKERS AND BONDED LABOUR) IN NIGERIA AND THE UNITED STATES. WRITTEN BY: 2121745 DATE: 26TH APRIL 2014 WORD COUNT: 2,770 WORDS As estimated by the International Labour organization (ILO), there are over 20.9 million people in this 21st century that are still enslaved. Another source states that there are 29.8 million people who are still held in modern day slavery. When the word “slavery” is mentioned, the idea that comes to mind is when people are taken from India, Africa and other third world countries, to the West Indies or America, for the purpose of them to work in sugar cane plantation. Although that kind of slavery was abolished in the 19th century, men, women and children are still slaves, thus, the birth of modern slavery. “Slavery is the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised”. Slavery is so much graver than forced labour, Slavery involves forced labour, but not every forced labour involves slavery. Despite being prohibited by so many International instruments, which includes the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1956 UN Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery and the 1926 UN Slavery Convention, Contemporary slavery still takes place in various forms, affecting all gender, races and color. Modern slavery has been in many forms, ranging...

Words: 3228 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Evolution of Slavery

...Most people believe that slavery ended long ago back in 1865 when President Lincoln passed the 13th amendment stating that slavery and involuntarily servitude is punishable as a crime. The truth is slavery is alive in today’s modern society, most commonly referred to as human trafficking. Human trafficking is the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through a use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them. According the U.S. State Department study, some 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States from overseas and enslaved each year. (Bales and Soodlater 6). Slavery has always, and will always be a part of the world we live in. It has evolved from a socially acceptable way of life for the upper class to an illegal act for a cheap price. Human trafficking today is most commonly in the form of sexual slavery or forced labor. The United States government has begun to take notice in this new type of slavery epidemic and are taking action and trying to gain control, but sadly few human trafficking cases are solved a year. The human trafficking industry is the third most profitable illegal enterprise, following guns and drugs, making it a rapid growing industry. According to the Polaris Project “because human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries, the U.S. government and academic researchers are currently working on an up-to-date estimate of the total number...

Words: 1785 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

19th Century Ideas

...abolitionist movement was to put an end to segregation and give slaves equal rights as everyone else. This differed from the ideas of other anti- slavery advocates who felt that slaves should be emancipated gradually instead of all at once. In addition, there were other groups that felt that slaves should not be freed but that they should simply keep slavery from spreading any further West. Although this movement technically began in the 1700’s, it took many years before it would become a full force movement. There was much progress made by this movement. One of the things that this movement accomplished was that it motivated the Northern states to either end slavery al together or at least work towards gradual abolition. By 1787, Congress had banned slavery in the Northwest. Around that same time many of the slave owners in Virginia and Maryland also freed their slaves. In 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation was put into place. This declared the freedom of the slaves within the Confederacy. Finally, in 1865 the Thirteenth Amendment was added to the Constitution banning slavery across the entire country. There is a modern equivalent to the abolitionist movement. Today we are fighting what is known as modern- day slavery, also known a human trafficking. The big difference between slavery in the 19th century and modern- day slavery is that in the 19th century, a slave knew that it was such, but in today’s society, many of the victims suffer from what is known as Stockholm syndrome...

Words: 368 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Comparing Lannen's Liberty And Slavery In Colonial America

...thought that the true American identity was based on slavery and liberty between whites and African Americans. It is said that both slavery and liberty were two essential components of their world. It is said that without white liberty, there could not be African American slaves. In two article findings, “Liberty and Slavery in Colonial America: The Case of Georgia, 1732-1770” written by Andrew C. Lannen and “Slave Trading in a New World” written by Leonardo Marques both explore the concepts of black slavery in the 17th Century. Lannen’s article explores the black slavery within the British colony in Georgia. It talks about how the British colony saw liberty and slavery as a major function in Georgia. It also goes into Georgia’s prohibition of slavery prior to the American Revolution. One person in particular was James Oglethorpe and his relationship with the trustees. Marques’ article explores the US slave trading of the D’Wolf family. Based on the article, it shows that the D’Wolf family was the largest slave trading family in the United States history. The article goes into...

Words: 1796 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Human Trafficking

...Speech November 12, 2013 Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery Thesis: By raising awareness and being involved in the movement, we can help prevent human trafficking. I. Attention A. Attention Getter: What is human trafficking? According to the Polaris Project, Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. It is the illegal trade of human beings, mainly for the purposes of forced labor and sex trafficking. B. Credibility: We thought that slavery was abolished in the 19th Century, but we were wrong. It is still happening till this day in 161 countries including the United States. As a matter of fact, it is happening in our own communities without us knowing or even being aware of it. II. Need (Problem) A. Problem: The problem with Human Trafficking is that every year thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. They are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will. B. Evidence 1. According to the A21 Campaign, there are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage. Only 1-2% of victims are ever rescued. 2. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states, “After drug dealing, trafficking of humans is tied with arms dealing as the second-largest criminal industry in the world.” 3. According to Not for Sale Campaign, slavery is wrapped up in almost every industry’s supply...

Words: 839 - Pages: 4