The authors emphasize that this is 10 million more than in 2017.

The report, prepared by the ILO together with the International Organization for Migration and the human rights organization Walk Free, which fights human trafficking, notes that slave labor and forced marriages are found in almost all countries of the world, including the most developed ones.

52% of cases occur in middle- and upper-middle-income countries.

Most cases of forced labor - 86% - were recorded in the private sector, in industries such as industry, construction, agriculture and domestic work.

Millions of people, mostly women and girls, are also trapped in sexual exploitation.

The remaining 14% of cases are state-sanctioned forced labor.

The report, among other things, noted the Belarusian practice, according to which persons suffering from chronic alcoholism are sent to special institutions where forced labor is used.

Today's slaves include 3.3 million children, about half of whom are forced to engage in sex work.

About 22 million people are married against their will.

In such conditions, the risk of domestic violence, sexual exploitation and forced unpaid work is higher.

The increase in the number of cases of slavery in the last 5 years in the ILO is attributed to the deterioration of the economic situation in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the energy crisis, which have led to an increase in poverty.

The impoverishment of the population forces people to accept dubious job offers, become illegal migrants, and "sell" young family members into marriage against their wishes in order to feed their families or pay off debts.