Modern Slavery and Exploitation

Modern Slavery and exploitation include Sexual Exploitation, Domestic Servitude, Forced Labour and Criminal Exploitation.

The signs of various types of slavery and exploitation are often hidden, making it hard to recognise potential victims. Victims can be any age, gender or from any ethnic group or nationality.

Whilst by no means exhaustive, some common signs of slavery and exploitation are:

• Legal documents being held by someone else
• Poor medical care, old or untreated injuries
• Their appearance may look malnourished, un-kept or they may appear withdrawn
• Their behaviour may appear frightened and withdrawn
• They may fear Authorities and be scared of being taken away or of having their family taken away
• Debt bondage, where they perceive themselves to be in debt to others.

Modern slavery is the second largest organised crime today, second only to drugs. It is the fastest growing criminal activity in the world and there are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today.

The average age of trafficked victims is 12 years old and it is estimated by “Stop the Traffik” that about 1.2 million children trafficked every year. An estimated 4,000 victims are trafficked for prostitution in the UK at any given time.

Exploitation is the deliberate maltreatment, manipulation or abuse of power and control over another person. It is taking advantage of another person or situation, usually, but not always, for personal gain.

Exploitation comes in many forms, including, slavery, being controlled by a person or persons, forced or compulsory labour, domestic violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence and human trafficking.