SUMMARY &AMERICAS FINDINGS

2018

MODERN SLAVERY:
A HIDDEN, EVERYDAY PROBLEM.
In 2016, 40.3 million people were living in modern
slavery. It exists in every corner of the world, yet isseemingly invisible to most people. Unravelling thisproblem requires sustained vigilance and action.
Take this fire in a clandestine textile workshop in
Buenos Aires, Argentina. These images are from2006, yet the fight for justice for the five boys and apregnant woman who were forced to work at thisfacility, and died in this fire, is still ongoing. In 2016,a court sentenced the workshop operator to 13 years
prison for servitude and destruction of property
causing death. This year, the court called for adeposition from the owner of the clothing brands,
who also owns the property.
The fight to end modern slavery continues.
We can, and must, do more.

Copyright © 2018. The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd.
All rights reserved.

FOREWORD
Too often, the onus of eliminating modern slavery is placed
only on the countries where the crime is perpetrated. They
certainly have a responsibility, but they are not alone inthis regard.
An atrocity as large and pervasive as modern slavery
requires a united, global response.
Last year, the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, developedwith the International Labour Organization and International
Organization for Migration, showed that more than 40 million
people globally are living in modern slavery and over a periodof five years, 89 million people experienced some form ofslavery – whether for a few days or several years. These
numbers represent people held in debt bondage on fishingboats, against their will as domestic servants, trapped in
marriages they never agreed to, and numerous other abuses.
Though almost every country has declared it illegal, modern
slavery still exists on a shocking and unacceptable scalein these and many other forms. And yet, action from thecountries most equipped to respond is underwhelming.
By declaring modern slavery as a problem that happens“over there”, high-GDP countries are ignoring theirculpability for this human rights crisis.
The Walk Free Foundation’s 2018 Global Slavery Index
makes this clearer than ever before.
As well as measuring where modern slavery occurs andhow governments are responding, for the first time the
Global Slavery Index also provides a picture of the factorsthat allow modern slavery to prosper, and where theproducts of the crime are sold and consumed.
This complete picture draws high-GDP countries into
sharp focus.
We have a better grasp on prevalence in high-GDP
countries – it is greater than we previously understood.
We better understand the factors which contribute tomodern slavery – migration, conflict, repressive regimes,
unethical business, environmental destruction anddiscrimination. While responsibility for some of thesefactors belongs with the countries where modern slavery
is occurring, some of these factors are directly linked topolicy decisions of high GDP countries.

And, the 2018 Global Slavery Index finds businesses andgovernments in G20 countries are importing products thatare at risk of modern slavery on a significant scale.
Our analysis identified the “top five” products at risk ofmodern slavery in each of the G20 countries – it includes
common items such as laptops, computers and mobile
phones, apparel and accessories, fish, cocoa and timber.
G20 countries are collectively importing US$354 billion
worth of these at-risk products annually.
Disappointingly, only seven G20 countries have formallyenacted laws, policies, or practices to stop business andgovernment sourcing goods and services produced byforced labour.
As well as providing countries with the tools to address
slavery within their borders, it is important all countries
consider the issue from a global perspective, andcollaborate on solutions.
To end modern slavery, high-GDP countries must examine
how their policy decisions contribute to the conditions
which allow modern slavery to prosper abroad, and theextent to which the profits of modern slavery permeate
their borders.
Our recommendations call on all governments to prioritisehuman rights when engaging with repressive regimes,
predict and respond to slavery in conflict situations,address modern slavery at home, examine public andprivate supply chains, and advocate for the rights ofwomen and girls globally.
Businesses must join this fight by collaborating withgovernment, addressing the risk of modern slavery in their
supply chains and providing transparency to investors andconsumers.
“Over there” doesn’t exist in this fight – we must all work as
one to end slavery for good.

ABOUT THE INDEXWalk Free Foundation
Modern slavery is a complex and often hidden crime thatcrosses borders, sectors, and jurisdictions. The Walk Free
Foundation believes that a strong multifaceted approachis needed to end modern slavery. This includes building arobust knowledge base to inform action, driving legislativechange in key countries and harnessing the power ofbusinesses and faiths. Through a combination of direct
implementation, grassroots community engagement, andworking in partnership with faiths, businesses, academics,
NGOs, and governments around the world, the Walk Free
Foundation believes we can end modern slavery.
The Walk Free Foundation provides the Secretariat for theBali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons
and Related Transnational Crime, and champions businesssector engagement in this regional program. It is also
advocating strongly for all leading global economies toenact laws to ensure all organisations are held accountable
for taking proactive steps to remove modern slavery fromtheir supply chains. The Walk Free Foundation’s Global

Slavery Index has developed world leading research toprovide measurement of the size and scale of modern
slavery, as well as assess country-level vulnerability andgovernmental responses. Together with the International
Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization
for Migration (IOM), the Walk Free Foundation developed
the joint Global Estimates of Modern Slavery.
Alongside this, the Global Freedom Network is working tocatalyse world faiths in the fight against modern slavery.
The Walk Free Foundation is also scaling effective antislavery responses in partnership with the Freedom Fundand seed funded the global activist movement, Freedom
United, whose community of eight million supporters
are campaigning for change. The Walk Free Foundation
continues to work with faiths, governments and NGOs
throughout the world to agitate for change and support
initiatives dedicated to the eradication of modern slavery
in all its forms.

What is modern slavery?

About modern slavery
Modern slavery is a hidden crime that affects every country
in the world. In the period between this Index and the last
(published in 2016), modern slavery was found in manyindustries including garment manufacturing, mining, andagriculture, and in many contexts, from private homes tosettlements for internally displaced people and refugees.
Instances have been identified in Thai fishing, coal mining
in North Korea, in the homes of diplomats in Australia, carwash stations in the United Kingdom, cocoa agriculture in
Côte d’Ivoire, and cattle ranching in Brazil, just to name afew examples.

FIGURE 1
Modern slavery is an umbrella term

DERN SLAVERY
MO
Trafficking for labourand sexual exploitation

Forced labour

Forced labour
as a result offorced marriage

Human
trafficking(cross border andwithin a country)

Slavery andslavery like practices(including forced
marriage)

Trafficking for slavery
and slavery likepractices

Terminology
Countries use differing terminologies to describe modern
forms of slavery. This includes how they describe slavery
itself, but also other concepts such as human trafficking,forced labour, debt bondage, forced or servile marriage,
and the sale and exploitation of children.
In this report, modern slavery is used as an umbrella termthat focuses attention on the commonalities across theseconcepts. Essentially, it refers to situations of exploitationthat a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats,
violence, coercion, deception, abuse of power, or deception.1
Refer to Appendix 1 for full terminology.

Modern slavery impacts on all of us, from the food we
consume to the goods we purchase. It is everyone’s
responsibility to address and eliminate this crime
everywhere it occurs.
Nearly every country in the world has committed toeradicate modern slavery through their national legislationand policies. Governments have a central role to playby enacting legislation, providing safety nets to their
populations, and pursuing criminals who participate inthis heinous crime. As no single actor can address allthese challenges, governments need the support andengagement of the private sector, civil society, and thecommunity at large.

The Index
The Global Slavery Index is a tool for citizens, non-governmentorganisations (NGOs), businesses, and governments tounderstand the size of the problem, existing responses, andcontributing factors so that they can advocate for and build
sound policies that will eradicate modern slavery.
All supporting data tables and methodology are available
to download from the Global Slavery Index website:www.globalslaveryindex.org.

Unravelling the numbers
71%
Female15.4

million in forced marriage

40.3 million

29%

Male

people in modern slavery in 2016

Prevalenceof modern slavery

high

24.9

million in forced labourlowHow governments respond
Most
actionNetherlands
United States
United Kingdom
SwedenBelgium
Croatia
Spain
NorwayPortugalMontenegro

LeastactionGovernment

responses to modern slavery

North Korea
Libya
Eritrea
Central African Republic
Iran
Equatorial Guinea
BurundiRepublic of the Congo
Sudan
Mauritania

strong

weak
not
rated

Georgia
Moldova
SenegalSierra Leone
MozambiqueStrong response
relative to GDP (PPP)**Gross Domestic Product (Purchasing Power Parity)

Qatar
Singapore
KuwaitBruneiHong Kong, China

Weak response
relative to GDP (PPP)*G20 leaders in consumption$354 billion

Exportrisk

Importrisk

at-risk products imported by G20 countries*

At-riskproducts of modern slavery

144b

Top 5

Fish

products at risk of modern slavery
imported into the G20 (by US $ value)3/

Laptops, computers& mobile phones

1/

Cocoa

$200.1 billion

4/$3.6 billion
Sugarcane

Garments

2/$12.9 billion$127.7 billion

5/$2.1 billion

47b

30b
18b

16b

15b 14b12b 10b

10b 8b

7b

6b

6b

5b

*This is based on trade data for 18 of the G20 countries, not including South Africa or the European Union.

3b

3b 739m

Governments, businesses, & consumers…
G20 countries
12
7
countries
not taking action

Argentina
Australia*
CanadaIndia
Indonesia
Japan
MexicoRussiaSouth Africa
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Turkey*Australia has announced
it will introduce supply
chain transparency laws
in the second half of 2018need to take action to stop sourcing
goods & services at risk of being
produced by forced labour

countries
taking action

BrazilChina
FranceGermany
Italy
United Kingdom
United States

Slavery in supply chains
Government response on Imports, Public Procurement,
Business Supply Chains, Identifying Risk is critical
See p.107 for details on actions being taken.

Governments

Businesses

Consumers…must do more
*This includes 19 G20 countries. The 20th member, the European Union, is a regional grouping so does not have national laws as such.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Depriving someone of their freedom is a terrible violation. Modern slavery is a
destructive, personal crime and an abuse of human rights. It is a widespread andprofitable criminal industry but despite this it is largely invisible, in part because
it disproportionately affects the most marginalised. This is why measuring thisproblem is so crucial in exposing and ultimately resolving it. The information
contained within the Global Slavery Index is critical in these efforts.

The 2018 Global Slavery Index measures the extent
of modern slavery country by country, and the steps
governments are taking to respond to this issue, toobjectively measure progress toward ending modern slavery.
The Index draws together findings from across estimates ofprevalence, measurement of vulnerability, and assessment ofgovernment responses, alongside an analysis of trade flows
and data on specific products. When considered as a set,
the data provide a complex and insightful picture of the ways
modern slavery is impacting countries around the world. This
enables us to refine our thinking on how to better respond tomodern slavery, and also how to predict and prevent modern
slavery in future.

critical forms of modern slavery such as recruitment ofchildren by armed groups and organ trafficking due tolack of data. From this starting point, the 2018 Global
Slavery Index uses predictive modelling, based on datafrom nationally representative surveys and the Walk
Free Foundation Vulnerability Model, to estimate theprevalence of modern slavery country by country.

The contributing factors

Findings from the 2018 Global Slavery Index highlight the
As reported in the recent Global Estimates of Modern
connection between modern slavery and two major external
Slavery, published by the International Labour
drivers - highly repressive regimes, inOrganization and the Walk Free
which populations are put to work to
Foundation, in partnership withprop up the government, and conflict
The findings highlight thethe International Organization forsituations which result in the breakdown
connection between modern
Migration, an estimated 40.3 millionof rule of law, social structures, andslavery and two major external existing systems of protection.
people were living in modern slavery
in 2016. In other words, on any given drivers - highly repressive regimes,
The country with the highest estimatedday in 2016, there were more thanin which people are put to work prevalence is North Korea. In North
40 million people – about 70 percent
to prop up the government, and Korea, one in 10 people are in modernof whom are women and girls – whoslavery with the clear majority forced toconflict situations which result
were being forced to work against
their will under threat or who werein the breakdown of rule of law, work by the state. As a UN Commissionof Inquiry has observed, violations ofliving in a forced marriage. In thesocial structures, and systems
human rights in North Korea are notpast five years, 89 million peopleof protection.
mere excesses of the state, they areexperienced some form of modern
an essential component of the politicalslavery for periods of time ranging
system. This is reflected in the researchfrom a few days to the whole five years. These estimateson North Korea undertaken through interviews with defectors
are conservative, given the gaps in existing data in key
for this Global Slavery Index. North Korea is followed closely
regions such as the Arab States and also exclusions ofNicoleta, 34, Romanian survivor of forced labour and forced sexual exploitation in Sicily“I came to Sicily with my husband. We needed to send money back to support our children in Romania.
But the greenhouse farmer where we found work said I had to sleep with him, and if I refused, hewouldn’t pay us. My husband said it was the only way we could keep our work. My employer threatened
me with a gun, and when he finished, he just walked away. This went on for months. I left both the farmand my husband, but found out it is the same wherever you try to find work here in Sicily.”
Photo credit: Francesca Commissari for The Guardianby Eritrea, a repressive regime that abuses its conscription
system to hold its citizens in forced labour for decades. These
countries have some of the weakest responses to modern
slavery and the highest risk.
The 10 countries with highest prevalence of modern slavery
globally, along with North Korea and Eritrea, are Burundi,
the Central African Republic, Afghanistan, Mauritania,
South Sudan, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Iran. Most of thesecountries are marked by conflict, with breakdowns in ruleof law, displacement and a lack of physical security (Eritrea,
Burundi, the Central African Republic, Afghanistan, South
Sudan and Pakistan). Three of the 10 countries with thehighest prevalence stand out as having state-imposed
forced labour (North Korea, Eritrea and Burundi). Indeed,
North Korea, Eritrea, Burundi, the Central African Republic,Afghanistan, South Sudan and Iran are the subject of various
UN Security Council resolutions reflecting the severity andextremity of the situations there.

A global issue
One of the most important findings of the 2018 Global Slavery
Index is that the prevalence of modern slavery in high-GDP
countries is higher than previously understood, underscoring
the responsibilities of these countries. Through collaboration,
the number of data sources which inform the Index has
increased. This has allowed the Index to more consistently
measure prevalence in countries where exploitation has
taken place. More surveys in sending countries has resulted
in more data about receiving countries, most of which arehighly developed. Following these changes, an interesting
pattern emerges: the prevalence estimates for the UnitedStates, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany,
the Netherlands, and several other European nations arehigher than previously understood. Given these are also
the countries taking the most action to respond to modern
slavery, this does not mean these initiatives are in vain. It does,
however, underscore that even in countries with seemingly
strong laws and systems, there are critical gaps in protections
for groups such as irregular migrants, the homeless, workers
in the shadow or gig economy, and certain minorities. Thesegaps, which are being actively exploited by criminals, needurgent attention from governments.
The realities of global trade and commerce make it inevitable
the products and proceeds of modern slavery will crossborders. Accordingly, for the first time we examine the issueof modern slavery not only from the perspective of where thecrime is perpetrated but also where the products of the crime
are sold and consumed, with a specific focus on the G20
countries. The resulting analysis presents a stark contrast ofrisk and responsibility, with G20 countries importing risk ona scale not matched by their responses.
Citizens of most G20 countries enjoy relatively low levelsof vulnerability to the crime of modern slavery within theirborders, and many aspects of their governments’ responses
to it are comparatively strong. Nonetheless, businesses andgovernments in G20 countries are importing products that are
at risk of modern slavery on a significant scale. Looking onlyat the “top five” at-risk products in each country identified by
our analysis, G20 countries are collectively importing US$354
billion worth of at-risk products annually.

Of greatest concern is the continuing trade in coal from
North Korea, alongside other products that are subject to
UN Security Council sanctions. However, most of the at-risk
products examined for this report are not subject to existing
sanctions. Rather, information about risk of modern slavery
can be found in research and media reports, and occasionallycourt cases. G20 countries are only just beginning to respondto this risk, through a growing focus on modern slavery inthe supply chains of business and government, but existing
efforts are not nearly enough. The Government Response
Index reveals that more than half of the G20 countries are yet
to formally enact laws, policies or practices aimed at stopping
business and government sourcing goods and services
produced by forced labour (Argentina, Australia, Canada,
India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi
Arabia, South Korea, and Turkey). The exceptions are China,
Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, UK, and the United States, eachof which has begun to take some steps in this regard. Australia
has announced it will introduce supply chain transparency
laws in the second half of 2018.

Government responses

individual governments can do much more than they are
doing to proactively engage with business to prevent forced
labour in supply chains and in public procurement.

Progress, but challenges remain
The 2018 edition of the Global Slavery Index introduces
new ways to look at an existing problem, drawing on a
growing data set and increasingly sophisticated analysis.
This deepens our understanding of the different contexts
where modern slavery is likely to flourish and helps us
predict the next flashpoint. For example, it is clear that if
the international community does nothing to address theenormous risks resulting from the mass displacement of
hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people to temporary
camps in Bangladesh, this will be the next populationof deeply exploited and abused people – further
compounding and reinforcing what is already a deeply
entrenched conflict. It is equally clear that businesses andgovernments continuing to trade with highly repressive
regimes such as North Korea and Eritrea are contributing
to the maintenance of forced labour.

The research also highlights the responsibilities held by
While much more needs to be done to prevent andboth low-GDP and high-GDP countries. All governments
respond to modern slavery, the Government Response
have committed to work together to achieve Sustainable
Index suggests that national legal, policy, and programmatic
Development Goal 8.7 on eradicating modern slavery. In
responses to modern slavery are improving, with an
this regard, high-GDP countries cannot simply rely on doing
upward trend overall in ratings for government responses.
more of the same – there is an urgent need to prioritise
Globally, governments are taking more action to strengthen
prevention, through a focus on discrimination and safe
legislation and establish coordination and accountability
migration. Equally, high-GDP countries have an obligation tomechanisms. Protection measures are being strengthened,take serious and urgent steps to address
with improvements in access to justice
the risks they are importing. They owe
for adults and children in some countries.
this obligation both to consumers in their
There
is
an
urgentneedtoNonetheless, in every country, there areprioritise prevention, through own countries and to victims along theenormous gaps between the estimatedsupply chain, where products are being
size of modern slavery and the small a focus on discrimination andharvested, packed and shipped.
number of victims that are identified.
safe migration.
This edition of the Global Slavery Index
This suggests efforts that exist on paper
introduces important improvements to theare not being implemented effectively.
ways prevalence of modern slavery is measured. Building on
Furthermore, in many countries, critical gaps in services
the collaborative work undertaken with the ILO and IOM on
remain, with 50 percent of countries excluding either
the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, the Global Slavery
migrants, men, or children from accessing services. Not
Index results reflect changes to scope, methodology, andonly are certain groups of victims not being identified, evenexpanded data sources. The estimates are presented as awhen they are detected they are not able to access support
stock (or point in time) calculation rather than a flow (total
and other services.
over a period of time), include state imposed forced labour,
Moreover, high-GDP countries such as Qatar, Singapore,and better estimates of sexual exploitation, and children in
Kuwait, Brunei and Hong Kong are doing very little tomodern slavery. Further, we were able to count exploitation
respond despite their wealth and resources, while lowwhere it occurred more consistently due to a considerably
GDP countries such as Georgia, Moldova, Senegal, Sierra
larger number of national surveys.
Leone and Mozambique are responding relatively strongly.
As a result of these advancements, the national prevalence
Government engagement with business on modern slavery
estimates are not comparable with previous editions of
has increased dramatically since the 2016 Global Slavery
the Global Slavery Index. Nonetheless, the strengthened
Index. In 2018, 36 countries are taking steps to address
methodology reflects stronger data, increased levels of
forced labour in business or public supply chains, compareddata, and more systematic coverage of different forms of
to only four countries in 2016. However, these steps are often
modern slavery. As such, while comparability from previous
to establish the bare minimum of reporting requirements;
years is lost, the changes are justified by the need tocontinually improve our knowledge base.

Recommendations
1 / Governments and businesses
prioritise human rights in decision
making when engaging withrepressive regimes.
»» Deliver on financial and trade restrictions imposedby the UN Security Council, such as those in placeagainst North Korea.
»» Conduct due diligence and transparency of business
operations, to ensure that any trade, business orinvestment is not contributing to or benefiting frommodern slavery (or other human rights abuses).
»» Establish active efforts to drive positive social change
through economic and business relationships.

2 / Governments proactively anticipate
and respond to modern slavery inconflict situations.
»» Create protective systems to identify and assist victims,
and at-risk populations both during conflict and in postconflict settings (including in neighbouring countries).
»» Collect and preserve evidence to ensure perpetrators
can be punished.
»» Prioritise international cooperation to investigate andprosecute perpetrators.

3 / Governments improve modern
slavery responses at home.
»» Improve prevention, including through prioritising safe
migration and steps to combat deep discrimination,
whether against ethnic minorities, women and girls
or migrants.
»» Close the gap between the estimated size of modern
slavery and the small numbers of victims that aredetected and assisted, through implementing laws to
identify victims. If laws are not working, the question
should be asked why, so barriers can be foundand overcome.
»» Ensure labour laws protect all workers, including
migrant workers, temporary and casual workers, andall people working in the informal economy.
»» Ensure all victims can access services, support
and justice, whether they are male, female,children, foreigners or nationals and regardless of
migration status.

4 / G20 governments and businesses
address modern slavery in supply
chains.
»» Conduct due diligence and transparency in public
procurement to guarantee public funds are notinadvertently supporting modern slavery.
»» Conduct due diligence and transparency in private
supply chains, using legislation that is harmonised
across countries.
»» Ensure the ethical recruitment of migrant workers,
including through prohibiting charging workers fees tosecure work and withholding identification documents.

5 / Governments prioritise responses toviolations against women and girls.
»» Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
»» Eliminate harmful practices such as child, early andforced marriage and female genital mutilation.
»» End abuse and exploitation of children.
»» Facilitate safe, orderly and responsible migration.
Country level recommendations can be found on the country
pages on the website. Regional level recommendations canbe found in the forthcoming region reports.

AMERICASREGION HIGHLIGHTS

CanadaUnited States
Cuba

Jamaica

Haiti

Dominican Republic
Barbados

MexicoGuatemalaTrinidad
And Tobago

El Salvador

Venezuela
GuyanaHonduras
Costa Rica

Nicaragua

Suriname

PanamaPeru
EcuadorBrazilBolivia

Colombia

Paraguay

Chile

high

Argentina

Uruguaylow

Estimated Number ofPeople in Modern Slavery

Forced labour
percentage

66%

Forced marriage
percentage

34%

41/100B

CC1,950,000
Regional Proportionof Global Estimate

5%

Average Vulnerability Score

Average Government Response Score

AAA

AA

A

BBB

BB

CCC

C

D

With 35 countries and 13 percent of the world’s population, the Americas is home
to geographically large countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and theUnited States and features wide socio-economic differences within each country
and across the region. This regional study summarises a longer set of findings,
which can be found in the Global Slavery Index: Americas Report.

Prevalence within the Americas
On any given day in 2016, an estimated 1.9 million men,
women, and children were living in modern slavery in theAmericas. This region had a prevalence of 1.9 people inmodern slavery for every 1,000 people in the region.
When considering the forms of modern slavery, the rate offorced labour (1.3 victims per 1,000 people) was higher than
the rate of forced marriage (0.7 victims per 1,000). A little
over a third of victims of forced labour exploitation were
held in debt bondage (37.9 percent), with similar proportionsof men and women in the region trapped through debt.

The region also accounted for four percent of all victims offorced sexual exploitation worldwide.
Within the region, Venezuela, Haiti, and the Dominican
Republic were the countries with the highest prevalenceof modern slavery; however, the United States, Brazil, andMexico had the highest absolute numbers and accounted
for over half (57 percent) of the victims in the region.
These regional figures, while important, should beinterpreted cautiously given the gaps and limitations ofdata in key regions. For example, there are no surveys
conducted in North America.

TABLE 1
Estimated prevalence of modern slavery by country, Americas

Regional
rankCountry

Estimated prevalence(victims per 1,000
population)

Estimated absolute
number of victims

Population

1

Venezuela, Bolivarian Republicof

5.6

174,000

31,155,000

2

Haiti

5.6

59,00010,711,000

3Dominican Republic

4.0

42,00010,528,000

4

Cuba

3.8

43,00011,461,000

5Honduras

3.4

30,0008,961,000

6

Trinidad and Tobago

3.0

4,000

1,360,000

7Guatemala2.9

47,000

16,252,000

8Nicaragua

2.9

18,0006,082,000

9

Barbados

2.7

1,000

284,000

10

Colombia

2.7

131,000

48,229,000

11Mexico2.7

341,000

125,891,000

12Guyana2.6

2,000

769,000

13

Jamaica

2.6

7,000

2,872,000

14

Peru

2.6

80,00031,377,000

15El Salvador

2.5

16,0006,312,000

16

Ecuador

2.4

39,00016,144,000

17Suriname

2.3

1,000

553,000

18

Bolivia, Plurinational State of

2.1

23,00010,725,000

Country

Estimated prevalence(victims per 1,000
population)

Estimated absolute
number of victims

Population

19

Panama2.1

8,000

3,969,000

20

Brazil1.8

369,000

205,962,000

21

Paraguay

1.6

11,0006,639,000

22

Argentina

1.3

55,00043,418,000

23

United States

1.3

403,000

319,929,000

Regionalrank

24

Costa Rica

1.3

6,000

4,808,000

25

Uruguay

1.0

4,000

3,432,000

26

Chile

0.8

14,00017,763,000

27Canada0.5

17,00035,950,000

Vulnerability within the Americas
FIGURE 1
Regional average vulnerability scores by dimension, Americas

44.3

Governance issues
21.4

Lack of basic needs

49.9

Inequality
Disenfranchised groups

33.5

Effects of conflict

22.9

Overallweighted average

41.4
0

20

The average vulnerability score in the Americas (41 percent)suggests a higher risk of modern slavery in this region thanis evident in the prevalence data. The Americas region
performed relatively well on the dimensions that measure
impact of conflict and acceptance of minority groups, with abetter average score than other regions, but relatively poorly
on the governance and the inequality dimensions, which canreflect increasing income inequality, significant problems
associated with violent crime, and lower confidence
in judicial systems (Figure 1). Across all dimensions ofvulnerability, scores in the region ranged from a high of 70
percent in Haiti to a low of 10 percent in Canada.

40

60

80

100

TABLE 2
Estimated vulnerability to modern slavery by country, Americas

Inequality

Disenfranchised
groups

Effects ofconflict

Overallweighted
average

49.7

54.1

56.8

20.1

69.6

65.1

19.7

60.4

34.3

27.8

57.9

47.3

23.7

59.0

37.8

68.8

57.3

Honduras

55.5

26.5

58.9

36.5

32.7

55.5

Cuba

60.2

25.9

37.6

47.8

17.3

52.4

Guatemala

51.0

25.8

58.1

40.9

27.4

52.1

Colombia

45.7

19.2

56.4

32.6

63.5

51.6

El Salvador

50.5

23.0

59.8

43.6

22.7

50.7

Guyana

49.5

25.6

60.4

28.1

12.4

45.4

Peru

44.3

24.7

48.0

38.2

27.5

44.3

GovernanceissuesLack of basic
needs

Haiti

62.4

Venezuela, Bolivarian RepublicofMexicoCountry

Jamaica

39.5

24.2

62.2

47.8

15.5

44.2

Bolivia, Plurinational State of

50.9

25.8

46.3

32.1

13.4

44.1

Nicaragua

48.2

24.5

43.3

35.3

22.8

43.9

Dominican Republic

42.5

28.7

46.1

38.8

21.8

43.1

Suriname

55.5

10.7

50.8

28.1

16.3

42.1

Barbados

47.6

14.3

52.5

47.8

9.2

41.9

Ecuador

46.0

23.0

46.4

29.1

23.0

41.3

Paraguay

38.3

21.0

64.7

32.7

22.7

40.9

Trinidad and Tobago

38.6

13.0

62.4

47.8

13.7

39.1

Panama

44.2

21.0

42.6

33.1

9.4

36.4

Brazil

43.1

13.6

56.2

19.8

24.0

36.4

Argentina

39.3

11.4

45.0

23.6

13.4

28.9

Costa Rica

35.2

16.7

40.7

29.4

12.2

28.4

Chile

28.5

13.8

50.0

23.5

20.3

25.6

Uruguay

31.9

13.5

34.3

15.4

9.5

19.7

United States

18.3

18.2

30.3

15.6

28.6

15.9

Canada

16.6

20.7

20.1

9.2

21.5

10.2

Government responses
within the Americas
Governments in the Americas have taken strong steps torespond to modern slavery, with improvements in victim
identification mechanisms and support services. The
Americas scores an average B rating, with countries suchas Chile, Argentina, and Peru strengthening their nationalreferral mechanisms and guidelines for identifying victims
in recent years. Certain countries within the Americas,
namely the US and Brazil, also lead the way globally on
engaging with business. Brazil has been engaging withbusiness to prevent trabalho escravo (slave labour) since2005 with the launch of its National Pact for the Eradicationof Slave Labour, a multi-stakeholder initiative to engage
national and international companies to maintain supply
chains free from slave labour.

TABLE 3
Movements in the rating for the Americas 2016
to 2018
Country

2016
RatingChangein rating2018
RatingUnited States

BBB*

BBB*

Argentina

BB

BBB

Chile

B

BBB

CanadaBB

BB

JamaicaBB

BB

Dominican
Republic

BB

BB

Brazil

BB

BB

Peru

B

BB

MexicoBB

BB

Uruguay

B

BB

Costa Rica

BB

BB

Trinidad andTobagoCCC

B

EcuadorB

B

Nicaragua

B

B

GuatemalaB

B

PanamaCCC

B

Bolivia,
Plurinational State
of

CCC

B

Colombia

B

B

Paraguay

B

B

Haiti

CCC

CCC

Barbados

CCC

CCC

El Salvador

CCC

CCC

Honduras

CCC

CCC

GuyanaCCC

CCC

Venezuela,
Bolivarian
Republic of

CCCC

Suriname

CC

CC

Cuba

CC

CC

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica,
Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines****Countries that scored -1 on a negative indicator could not score above a
BBB rating**Not rated in 2016 Global Slavery Index***Included for the first time in 2018, therefore a rating is not provided.
All data are still available via the Global Slavery Index website

TABLE 4
Government response rating, milestone percentage, and total score by country, Americas

Supportsurvivors

Criminaljustice

Coordination

Addressrisk

SupplychainsTOTAL

United States

92.6

75.6

56.3

66.7

65.0

71.7

BBB

Argentina

70.0

70.6

62.5

78.6

0.0

62.6

BBB

Chile

76.5

53.9

50.0

76.2

0.0

62.3

RatingCountry

BBB*

BB

Canada

52.4

72.8

75.0

61.9

0.0

58.6

BB

Jamaica

50.6

72.8

75.0

64.3

0.0

58.6

BB

Dominican Republic

69.1

78.3

37.5

69.0

0.0

58.0

BB

Brazil

38.9

47.8

87.5

73.8

26.7

55.6

BB

Peru

75.9

42.2

62.5

54.8

0.0

52.5

BB

Mexico

53.7

62.8

56.3

69.0

0.0

52.4

BB

Uruguay

40.6

49.4

50.0

78.6

0.0

50.4

BB

Costa Rica

53.7

41.7

62.5

59.5

0.0

50.0

B

Trinidad and Tobago

67.2

50.0

31.3

66.7

0.0

49.9

B

Ecuador

61.1

55.6

37.5

52.4

0.0

46.4

B

Nicaragua

34.4

70.0

25.0

66.7

0.0

46.3

B

Guatemala

42.2

25.6

62.5

69.0

0.0

45.2

B

Panama

32.6

60.0

31.3

78.6

0.0

43.9

B

Bolivia, Plurinational State of

21.3

43.9

62.5

61.9

8.3

41.3

B

Colombia

40.4

42.2

62.5

69.0

0.0

41.1

B

Paraguay

26.1

56.7

37.5

71.4

10.0

40.9

CCC

Haiti

49.6

42.8

18.8

47.6

0.0

39.7

CCC

Barbados

53.3

26.1

37.5

45.2

0.0

39.4

CCC

El Salvador

31.7

39.4

43.8

64.3

0.0

37.4

CCC

Honduras

27.6

25.6

62.5

54.8

0.0

37.0

CCC

Guyana

33.1

44.4

25.0

45.2

0.0

31.5

CC

Venezuela, Bolivarian
Republic of

23.3

43.9

12.5

52.4

0.0

28.2

CC

Suriname

24.3

5.6

31.3

54.8

0.0

27.1

CC

Cuba

13.0

15.0

18.8

42.9

0.0

20.8

No
ratingAntigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines4*Indicates where a country could not score above a BBB. These countries
have received a negative rating for policies that hinder their response tomodern slavery.

GLOBALSLAVERYINDEX.ORG