International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

Understanding Modern Slavery Today

Modern slavery is not a relic of the past. It continues in many forms across the world including human trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude, child marriage and sexual exploitation. Despite global progress, millions of women and girls remain trapped in hidden systems of control that strip them of autonomy, identity and safety.

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on 2 December calls on the global community to recognise these ongoing violations of human rights and confront the conditions that allow exploitation to persist. It is not only about raising awareness but also about challenging the structures and attitudes that normalise exploitation in everyday life.

Who Is Affected – and Why It Matters

Women and girls are disproportionately targeted in modern slavery. They make up the majority of those trafficked for sexual exploitation and a significant percentage of victims in forced labour and domestic servitude. Many are recruited through deception or coercion, others through poverty, displacement or lack of opportunities.

The numbers are staggering. Recent global data suggests that more than 50 million people live in conditions of modern slavery and around 12 million of them are children. Women and girls account for nearly three quarters of those exploited sexually and almost four in ten of those in forced labour. These figures highlight how gendered inequalities fuel vulnerability long before exploitation begins.

The Hidden Nature of Exploitation

One of the most challenging aspects of modern slavery is its invisibility. Exploitation often takes place behind closed doors in private homes in informal workplaces or through digital platforms that make recruitment easier and accountability harder. Victims may not recognise their own situation as slavery because coercion can be subtle and psychological rather than overtly physical.

Shame, fear and cultural pressures silence many women. Immigration status is often used as a weapon against them. In some cases family or community ties play a role in recruitment which further complicates disclosure. Understanding this hidden nature is essential for building effective pathways to safety and support.

Why This Day Matters for Anah Project

For the Anah Project, the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is a moment to honour women who have survived exploitation and to amplify the realities that often remain unspoken. Our work brings us into contact with women whose lives have been shaped by coercion, forced dependency and systemic inequality. Many have experienced forms of control that echo the dynamics of modern slavery even when not labelled as such.

This day reminds us to look beyond the surface of someone’s situation and to recognise signs of exploitation that may be masked by fear or cultural expectation. It encourages us to continue fostering spaces where women feel safe to speak, question and reclaim their autonomy. It also reinforces the importance of challenging harmful norms that excuse or minimise control over women’s lives.

What You Can Do Today

Observing 2 December does not require grand gestures. It begins with awareness and reflection. Here are ways you can engage meaningfully:

• Learn the signs of exploitation so you know when something is not right.
• Share information about modern slavery to help break the silence around it.
• Challenge language and attitudes that normalise control over women.
• Support organisations that provide safe spaces, advocacy and long-term support to survivors.
• Raise your voice when something concerns you even if it feels small. Awareness often starts with a single conversation.

Modern slavery thrives in silence. It weakens when communities choose to see, speak and act.

A Call to Recognise and Resist

This International Day for the Abolition of Slavery invites us to recognise that exploitation is both global and local. It may be happening miles away or in the next street. It may affect strangers or women we know but whose struggles remain unseen.

Take time today to reflect on how each of us contributes to a safer world for women and girls. Tolerance, awareness and solidarity are powerful tools. When communities understand the realities of modern slavery they are better equipped to challenge it. When women are believed and supported they are better able to rebuild their lives.

Ending modern slavery is a collective responsibility. It begins with seeing the unseen, questioning the unquestioned and choosing to stand with survivors as they reclaim their freedom.