Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

Modern Day Slavery and What We Buy Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

This report addresses forced labor and human trafficking around the world. If we are to root out this horrific scourge on humanity we must have a multi-faceted approach to combat the root problems of the crisis and to hold accountable governments of countries that are sources, destinations or transit centers for the innocent victims of trafficking and forced labor. That in the 21st century more than 20 million people worldwide find themselves living in conditions of modern-day slavery is an affront to humanity and our basic liberties enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to the International Labor Organization's 2012 findings, 22 percent are victims of forced sexual exploitation with 68 percent victims of forced labor. These men, women and children are unconscionably subjugated to conditions of slavery for the sake of a profit. According to a new ILO report, trafficking generates $150 billion in illegal profits each year. Of this, two-thirds is generated from sexual exploitation with approximately $51 billion generated as a result of forced labor. The spreading of forced labor has therefore led to an increase in its effects on the production, handling and distribution of various goods. By now we have all heard stories of shoppers finding desperate cries for help in the forms of notes stuffed into bags or stitched into clothing tags exported from factories worldwide to shops in our local neighborhoods.