New global index exposes 'modern slavery' worldwide

Nearly 30 million people around the world
are living as slaves, according to a new
index ranking 162 countries.
The Global Slavery Index 2013 says India has
the highest number of people living in
conditions of slavery at 14 million.
But Mauritania has the highest proportional
figure with about 4% of its population
enslaved.
The report's authors hope it will help
governments tackle what they call a "hidden
crime".

'Better measure'
The index was compiled by Australian-based
rights organisation Walk Free Foundation
using a definition of modern slavery that
includes debt bondage, forced marriage and
human trafficking.
"A lot of governments won't like hearing what
we have to say," WFF chief executive Nick
Grono told the French news agency Agence
France-Presse.
"Those governments that want to engage with
us, we will be very open to engaging and
looking at ways in which we can better
measure the issue of modern slavery."
The organisation's estimate of 29.8 million
slaves worldwide is higher than other attempts
to quantify modern slavery. The International
Labour Organisation estimates that almost 21
million people are victims of forced labour.
India, China, Pakistan and Nigeria have the
highest numbers of people enslaved, the
charity said.
Together with five other countries, they
account for three-quarters of the total
estimated number of people in modern slavery
worldwide.
The report said India's ranking was mostly due
to the exploitation of Indians citizens within
the country itself.
While the highest proportion of slaves is in
Mauritania, with many people inheriting slave
status from their ancestors, Haiti is second in
the index and Pakistan is third.
The new survey has the backing of world
figures including former US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, ex-British Prime Minister Tony
Blair.
Mrs Clinton said that although the index was
not perfect, it provided a starting point,
according to the Associated Press.
"I urge leaders around the world to view this
index as a call to action, and to stay focused
on the work of responding to this crime."