[Hussain Badshah / Creative Commons]
ARMED conflicts and the climate emergency are helping to fuel the forced labour and involuntary marriage of more than 50 million people, according to a report released on Wednesday.
The report by the Walk Free Foundation, a rights group that focuses on modern slavery, said while India is estimated to account for more than 11m people who were either in forced labour or involuntary marriage, the problem was widespread across the globe.
The report said that even in those countries with supposed low prevalence of modern slavery, such as Switzerland, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland, “thousands of people continue to be forced to work or marry, despite their high levels of economic development, gender equality, social welfare and political stability, as well as strong criminal justice systems.”
Women’s fight against violence and legal erosion is central to building a democratic and just Iraq, says Dr SALMA SAADAWI
From summit to summit, imperialist companies and governments cut, delay or water down their commitments, warn the Communist Parties of Britain, France, Portugal and Spain and the Workers Party of Belgium in a joint statement on Cop30
BOB NEWLAND relishes a fascinating read as well as an invaluable piece of local research
