Opinion | The Hidden Reality of Modern Day Slavery 

In the shadow of our interconnected world, a sinister reality persists, largely hidden from view but inflicting unimaginable suffering upon countless individuals, as we move forward towards a better changing world, it is crucial to confront this harsh truth and take an eye on the faces behind the statistics. Modern slavery is defined by the UNO (United Nations Organizations) as “The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation”. The modern slavery affects society, which lasts for the rest of their lives and can have impacts on subsequent generations. Slavery skews demography, deteriorates agricultural production, increases gender discrimination and violence. The main victims of modern slavery are men, women and children of all ages.

Sex trafficking is a form of modern day slavery in which a person gets exploited by a trafficker which leads to the deterioration of individuals’ well being. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported 4.5 million victims of forced sexual exploitation in 2012 and was increased to 5 million in 2016. Elements of modern slavery are child slavery, forced criminality, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced marriage and sex trafficking. It is being said that the most common form of modern slavery is forced labour and forced marriages. Roughly 49.6 million live in modern slavery out of which 22 million people are in forced marriage.

There are myriad causes of Modern day slavery such as:
Lack of knowledge is a major cause of mental slavery. When people don’t have access to knowledge, they are more likely to be vulnerable to the opinions and beliefs of others, which can limit their ability to think critically and make independent decisions.
In particular, individuals who lack education and access to information are more susceptible to falling into mental slavery without a solid foundation of knowledge; they may not have the vision to critically evaluate information and form their own opinions. As a result, they can blindly accept what they are told, rather than engaging in critical thinking and questioning authority.
Poverty is another factor in creating and perpetuating mental slavery, as it can limit an individual’s opportunities and limit their ability to liberate themselves from an oppressive system. Poverty often leads to lack of access to education, healthcare and other essential resources, which can make it difficult for people to develop the skills and knowledge. This lack of access can make people feel hopeless, helpless and powerless, which can lead to the feelings of despair and a lack of self esteem. It can increase the possibility that people will be subjected to abuse, exploitation and discrimination, which can further erode their sense of self worth and dignity. The mental toll of poverty can be devastating and can trap people in a cycle of poverty and oppression that can be difficult to escape. Breaking this cycle requires addressing the root causes of poverty and empowering people with the resources and support.
The roots of mental slavery are multifaceted and complex, depending upon the individual, culture and the historical identity in which it occurs. The main and common factors which contribute to mental slavery are:
Systematic oppression leads to the effect of mental slavery in which one group holds power and controls over another. It can have many forms like socio-economic and political etc and this can create a sense of powerlessness and even helplessness sometimes.
Mental slavery can also be the result of socialization oppression, in which we are bound to certain beliefs, values and even behaviors that are enforced on us through social norms.
Trauma and fear: Trauma cum fear can be also part of mental slavery, mostly when the situations arise the individuals feel powerless. Trauma can lead to disempowerment and fear can lead to a desire for safety and security which can be exploited by those who are in power or higher ups.
Psychological factors mental slavery can also be influenced by psychological factors, such as low self-esteem, lack of self awareness, fear of uncertainty. These factors can lead to difficulty for any individual to break the chains of slavery system and beliefs, and can even lead to the sense of discomfort or resignation as per the circumstances.
The world which prides itself on progress, it is unsettling to confront the hidden reality of modern day slavery. We can’t turn blind eye to the sufferings facing countless individuals. Need of hour, is the collective Consciousness to break this chain of mess for the betterment of tomorrow.
– The writer can be reached at syedanaiyatbukharie@gmail.Com