Quite a lot of time has passed since slavery in any form of its manifestation was banned as a social phenomenon, and many people gained freedom. Nevertheless, despite the lack of legislative support, this remnant of the past is still encountered in the modern world, and this problem is quite urgent since a large number of people suffer from forcible detention. For the first time, slavery became widespread in the 17th century; however, today, its various forms can be observed in different countries, and it is especially about backward states with a low level of economic development. The phenomenon of slavery seems impossible, but, according to various studies, quite a few people are forced against their will to work and provide particular services. Some ideas of the struggle against slavery are presented in the scientific papers of different authors. Therefore, the relevance of this issue is quite significant, the importance of the problem can hardly be challenged, and certain measures should be taken to completely eradicate this concept from modern life.
Prerequisites of Modern Slavery
Despite total prohibitions on forced retention of people, slavery is still one of the pressing issues of modern society. Laws to abolish this phenomenon were signed in all the countries where citizens exploited the labor of others for their benefit. However, as Kara (2017) remarks, slavery has continued to influence modern societies as it carries on the notion that the powerful can control the weak as some individuals are superior to others. This approach was typical of the society several centuries ago when colonies re strategically important territories on which slaves and resources were exploited.
Over time, the picture has changed. Colonies have completely disappeared, people have received official freedom, most countries have become independent. Nevertheless, slavery has remained, it has just acquired other forms of manifestation that are more characteristic of modern society. As Rezaeian (2016) claims, the types of modern slavery encompass “prostitution, sexual exploitation, forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, slavery, servitude, child soldiering, brides and removal of organs for economic gain” (p. 32). All these actions are illegal, but despite a complete ban, some of the problems described are often encountered. Therefore, it cannot be unequivocally said that slavery is eradicated; it just took other forms, although the prerequisites remained the same as before: the forcible use of people for the sake of profit.
The relevance of the Issue
A detailed study of the problem of modern slavery and its eradication is caused by not only moral and ethical principles but also statistics that are quite menacing. Thus, according to Elrod (2015), almost twenty-one million children, men, and women across the globe are victims of modern slavery (p. 962). Such a number is officially documented; however, if the governments around the world take into account the fact that the huge number of victims of forced confinement is unregistered, the relevance of the problem will grow even more.
The situation is complicated by the fact that not only adults but also children are regularly involved in forced labor. As Kara (2017) remarks, the constantly increasing number of children are trafficked every year for forced labor in cotton fields. This fact should not be left aside, and the task of all the modern governments is to help society to cope with this problem and take all possible measures to eradicate the remnants of the past in the form of slavery. It is not excluded that the help of ordinary citizens can also be useful for solving the issue. Therefore, real methods of influencing the current situation should be developed and implemented in the shortest possible time to achieve freedom for all forcibly retained people and ensure equal rights for everyone.
Possible Solutions to the Problem
It is best to begin work on eradicating modern slavery by strengthening the educational base for children who are also at risk of forced labor. In case a sufficient number of schools are built in those areas that are potentially dangerous, children will be involved in studies and, therefore, will not be exploited by slavers. According to Kara (2017), access to education for all children, especially for those from low-income families, is a crucial element in the prevention of trafficking.
Another way of fighting, which all governments can resort to, is to help families with low social status since, as a rule, members of this particular layer of society most often become free labor for criminals. According to Palmbach, Blom, Hoynes, Primorac, and Gaboury (2014), more than 500,000 individuals, about 21 percent of the population, are currently in slavery with most of them under debt bondage (p. 3). If the relevant authorities help low-income families to cope with their difficulties and, for example, provide permanent work, it will make a very significant contribution to solving the problem of slavery. Otherwise, the problem will not disappear but will become even more global as, judging by the trend, the number of people suffering from forcible retention is growing.
Additional Measures
Specific interventions can be carried out not only by the authorities but also by ordinary citizens. As Paz-Fuchs (2016) notes, there are certain badges of slavery, watching which, it is possible to determine whether a person is forcibly held or not. For example, haggard appearance, the lack of permanent residence, and other factors are indicators of the fact that a person can be used as free labor. Timely responses to such cases can help to identify victims of slavery faster and help them.
Also, some volunteer units can be organized to educate the population about the current issue and find people who have fallen into such a problem. If the society is interested in stopping such a remnant of the past as slavery quickly, joint actions will surely produce a positive effect. Indifference to this issue, on the contrary, will slow down the fight and significantly complicate the identification of all the possible causes of slavery. Therefore, the interaction of the authorities and ordinary citizens can be useful and effective enough in dealing with the problem.
Conclusion
Thus, the relevance of the problem of slavery is statistically confirmed, and certain measures and interventions can help society to stop this danger. The use of free labor in modern society is unacceptable, and governments should do everything possible to resolve the issue. Protecting children and providing jobs to those in need can be of real help. Voluntary units can help the authorities to find people who are the victims of slavery and assist them in disposing of forcible detention. Indifference to the problem will significantly slow down the decision process and will not give a chance to correct the current situation.
References
Elrod, J. (2015). Filling the gap: Refining sex trafficking legislation to address the problem of pimping. Vanderbilt Law Review, 68(3), 961-996.
Kara, S. (2017). Perspectives on human trafficking and modern forms of slavery. Social Inclusion, 5(2), 1-2.
Palmbach, T., Blom, J., Hoynes, E., Primorac, D., & Gaboury, M. (2014). Utilizing DNA analysis to combat the world wide plague of present day slavery–trafficking in persons. Croatian Medical Journal, 55(1), 3-9.
Paz-Fuchs, A. (2016). Badges of modern slavery. The Modern Law Review, 79(5), 757-785.
Rezaeian, M. (2016). The emerging epidemiology of human trafficking and modern slavery. The Middle East Journal of Business, 11(3), 32-36.