"On Slavery Abolition Day, Ban warns of enslavement, trafficking risks for refugees, migrants", 2 Dec 2015

With more than 60 million people driven from their homes and millions more crossing borders to seek a better life, the risk of mounting human trafficking and enslavement with all its “horrific abuse” must be confronted, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today. "Slavery has many modern forms, from the children toiling as domestic servants, farmhands and factory workers, to the bonded labourers struggling to pay off ever-mounting debts, to the victims of sex trafficking who endure horrific abuse,” he said in a message marking the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery...“I urge Member States, businesses, private foundations and other donors to demonstrate their commitment to ending slavery by ensuring that this Fund has the resources to fulfil its mandate,” concluded the Secretary-General...At the same time, International Labour Organization (ILO) Executive Director, Guy Ryder called on governments to ratify ILO's Forced Labour Protocol to make a real change in the lives of the 21 million people worldwide who are trapped in modern slavery...