Unmasking The Invisible Chains Of Modern Day Slavery

Unmasking The Invisible Chains 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 of what we call modern slavery. The UNO (United Nations Organizations) defines modern slavery as “The recruitment, harbouring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation”. Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, said, “Slavery is not a thing of the past; it is an ugly reality of the present. We must expose the hidden chains that bind people and work tirelessly to break them, for freedom is the birthright of every person.”
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, and 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 the individual’s well-being. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported 4.5 million victims of forced sexual exploitation in 2012 which 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 told that the most common form of modern slavery is forced labour and forced marriages. Roughly 49.6 million lives are indulged in modern slavery out of which 22 million people are 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 individual opportunities and limit their ability to liberate themselves from an oppressive system. Poverty often leads to a lack of access to education, healthcare and other essential resources, which can make it difficult for people to develop skills and knowledge. This lack of access can make people feel hopeless, helpless and powerless, which can lead to 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: It leads to the effect of mental slavery in which one group holds power and control 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 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 and mental slavery can also be influenced by psychological factors, such as low self-esteem, lack of self-awareness, and fear of uncertainty. These factors can lead to difficulty for any individual to break the chains of the slavery system and beliefs and even can lead to a sense of discomfort or resignation as per the circumstances.
In a world that prides itself on progress, it is unsettling to confront the hidden reality of modern-day slavery. We can’t turn a blind eye to the sufferings facing countless individuals. The need of the hour is the collective consciousness to break this chain of mess for the betterment of tomorrow.
Eventually, I would like to conclude my write-up with these quotes:
“Modern-day slavery is a crime against humanity. It exists in every corner of the globe, and it must end. We must raise our voices, speak out, and take action to free those trapped in this brutal and dehumanizing system.” Malala Yousafzai
“The hidden reality of modern-day slavery is a stark reminder that the fight for freedom and justice is far from over. We must not rest until every person is free from the chains of exploitation and able to live a life of dignity.” Nelson Mandela

The author is pursuing Masters at The Department Of Statistics, University Of Kashmir. He can be reached at [email protected]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.