Number of enslaved persons rises to 45.8 million

June 02, 2016

Following the publication of the 2016 Global Slavery Index, L’Osservatore Romano devoted a front-page article in its June 2 edition to modern-day slavery.

According to the index, the nations with the highest numbers of slaves are India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan. 58% of the world’s 45.8 million slaves live in these five countries.

North Korea, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, India, and Qatar have the highest percentage of slaves among their populations.

In his message for the 2015 World Day of Peace-- “No Longer Slaves, But Brothers and Sisters”-- Pope Francis issued an “urgent appeal” to the international community to end “this abominable phenomenon.”

 

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Further information:

• Sommersie sfruttati (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 1)
• Global Slavery Index
• Global slavery index says 45.8 million people in servitude (AP)