enslavement

Enslavement refers to the condition in which a person is owned or controlled by another and deprived of personal freedom, compelled to work or perform services without voluntary choice. Slavery takes many forms—chattel slavery, debt bondage, forced labor, serfdom, and domestic servitude—and may involve coercion, violence, or legal and social arrangements that restrict autonomy.

Historically, slavery has appeared in many societies across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. The transatlantic slave trade (roughly 15th–19th centuries) moved millions from Africa to the Americas and underpinned certain economic systems. Abolition movements in the 18th–20th centuries led to the outlawing of slavery in many countries. Modern international law outlaws slavery: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) prohibits slavery in Article 4, and the 1926 Slavery Convention and subsequent treaties address trafficking and forced labor. International Labour Organization conventions promote workers’ rights and prohibit forced labor.

Modern slavery refers to conditions such as human trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, forced or early marriage, and child labor. It persists in many sectors, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, mining, and domestic work, and across regions. Estimates by UN agencies and NGOs place the number of enslaved people in the tens of millions, reflecting underreporting and hidden exploitation.

Efforts against enslavement combine legal reform, law enforcement, victim protection, and international cooperation. Initiatives include supply chain due diligence, rehabilitation programs, and awareness campaigns. Challenges remain, including often-hidden abuses, weak rule of law, discrimination, and the need to address root causes such as poverty and conflict.