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communities that are heavily she effectively becomes a slave for as Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq,
discriminated against, such as life. which are dealing with the impact
Dalits in India. In one example of ongoing conflict in Syria. This
2
reported by antislavery.org , a Slavery is also more likely to occur regional study provides a longer
member of the Dalit community where the rule of law is weak and set of findings, which can be found
corruption is rife. When it happens
was forced to borrow money in the Global Slavery Index: Arab
to groups of people who are not States Report .
3
from a wealthy farmer for urgent
protected by the law, for example
medical treatment. This pushed
migrants where visas have expired On any given day in 2016, an
them into debt bondage for
and who face the risk of deportation, estimated 520,000 men, women,
decades with no hope of help from and children were living in modern
this increases risk and they become
corrupt authorities. The ILO has slavery in the Arab States. This is a
more susceptible to blackmail and
many case studies that explain the prevalence of 3.3 victims per 1,000
slavery.
consequences of such misery. persons. When considering the
Modern slavery also covers Prevalence Of Slavery in The forms of modern slavery, the largest
instances where young girls are share of those in modern slavery
Arab States 4 were victims of forced labour (2.2
married off as part settlement of
victims per 1,000 people), while
a family debt. By simply living in The Global Slavery Index’s report
a society where early marriage is on the Arab States region covers the rate of forced marriage was 1.1
acceptable, young girls are at risk 11 countries including Bahrain, victims per 1,000 people.
and this risks their human rights. Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Over half of all victims of forced
Many victims are married to much Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, labour exploitation (51%) were held
older men. Pregnancy for a pre-teen Syria, United Arab Emirates and in debt bondage - as mentioned
can risk the life of both mother and Yemen, and is home to 2% of the previously - and this affected a
child - a child’s body is often not able world’s population. The region is greater share of female victims
to carry a baby full-term. This type diverse, spanning the wealthier than male victims. The Arab States
of slavery is illegal, contravenes the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC accounted for 1% of victims of
girl’s human rights, and means that countries) and countries such forced sexual exploitation globally.
7 year, Issue 26, Mar - May 2020 www.MiddleEast-Business.com
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