Africa has second highest victims of forced labour globally with 3.7 million persons – ILO
New estimates from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) show nearly 21 million people are victims of forced labour across the world and the African region has the second highest number of the victims.
According to the figures released by the ILO June 1, 2012, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest number of forced labourers in the world with 11.7 million (56%) of the global total, followed by Africa with 3.7 million (18%) and Latin America with 1.8 million victims (9%).
About 26% of the total victims worldwide were below 18 years, the ILO noted.
The UN agency further revealed that 18.7 million (90 %) victims are exploited in the private economy, by individuals or enterprises. “Of these, 4.5 million (22%) are victims of forced sexual exploitation and 14.2 million (68%) are victims of forced labour exploitation in economic activities, such as agriculture, construction, domestic work or manufacturing,” the ILO added.
Another 2.2 million (10%) persons are in state-imposed forms of forced labour, the ILO stated.
The organization says the methodology used for the study has been revised and improved since the initial estimate in 2005.
“We have come a long way over the last seven years since we first put an estimate on how many people were forced into labour or services across the world. We have also made good progress ensuring most countries now have legislation which criminalises forced labour, human trafficking and slavery-like practices,” said Beate Andrees, Head of the ILO’s Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour.
By Ekow Quandzie