Half of World's 30 Million Slaves Live in the Country: Survey

A report claiming to be the first ever global survey of "modern day slavery" has listed India as a country with the most number of slaves at about 14 millions out of 30 millions globally.

The Global Slavery Index, which survey 162 nations was compiled and published by the Australia-based Walk Free Foundation, states that in 2013, modern slavery takes many forms, and is known by many names: slavery, forced labour or human trafficking. The definition of the modern slavery that includes debt bondage, forced marriage, trafficked into brothels and the use of children in the military.

The report estimates that there are 29.8 million slaves worldwide, which is higher than other attempts to quantify modern slavery. The UN estimates almost 21 million people are victims of forced labour.

India (13,956,010), China (2,949,243), Pakistan (2,127,132) and Nigeria (701,032) have the highest numbers of people enslaved, the rights group claimed.
According to the report, India's ranking was mostly due to the exploitation of Indians citizens within the country itself. It also noted that in India the risk of enslavement varies markedly from state to state.

Though India has the most number of slaves, but Mauritania has the highest proportion of slaves, with many people inheriting slave status from their ancestors, Haiti is the second, Pakistan third and India fourth.

The global slavery index is drawn from 10 years of research into slavery conditions around the world and was produced by a team of four authors supported by 22 other experts and advisers, according to the report which is the first of its kind.

The reasons why 30 million continued to live in conditions of slavery in 2013, varied from country to country, but one constant was that it remained a "hidden problem", according to Gina Dafalia, who was quoted as saying by CNN.

The Perth's based Foundation was set up last May by philanthropist Andrew Forrest, ranked by Forbes as Australia's fifth richest man.

The new index has been backed by noted personalities which include former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, philanthropists Bill Gates and Richard Branson.