One in every 130 females globally is living in modern slavery: UN report

Even as it remains true that modern slavery affects everyone, females across the world account for about 71% of all victims, according to a report by the United Nations.

Pointing towards modern slavery being largely a gender issue, the report titled ‘Stacked Odds’ states that modern slavery is enabled by power imbalances, and for women and girls, this imbalance is exacerbated by gender inequality and discrimination.

According to the report, one in every 130 females globally is living in modern slavery. Females account for a staggering 99% of all victims of forced sexual exploitation, 84% of all victims of forced marriage, and 58% of all victims of forced labor, it added.

The report highlighted that in most countries girl children continue to have relatively less access to school and medical care, which in turn makes women more vulnerable to end up in poverty.

Females outnumber males as victims of modern slavery in four of the five world regions. They account for 73% of victims in Asia and the Pacific, 71% in Africa, 67% in Europe and Central Asia, and 63 % in the Americas, the UN report states.

Saying that the need to address the disproportionate risk of modern slavery among women and girls has never been more urgent, the report reinforces the need to involve survivors in decision making to ensure their voices are heard and the insights of their lived experience translate into effective solutions.