Fashion is one of the industries that contributes most to modern slavery

It's horrible, but certainly not unimaginable: fashion is one of the industries that contributes most to modern slavery.

According to the Global Free Slavery Index 2018 of the Walk Free Foundation, together with technology, cane sugar, cocoa and the fish market, fashion is among the five industries that derives the greatest benefit from the widespread diffusion of modern slavery, which is estimated to be victims 40 million people worldwide (71% of whom are women). Reporting the news, Teen Vogue says that, especially because of the fast fashion

"out of the $354 billion reportedly imported into G20 countries, garments represented $127.7 billion worth of imports potentially produced through slave labor." 

North Korea, Eritrea, and Burundi are the top three nations with the highest prevalence of modern slavery, but the most at-risk garments are imported from China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil and Argentina.

But what do we actually mean by "modern slavery"? The report identifies with this expression exploitation situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, abuse of power, or deception. 

"Over 40 million people worldwide are victims of slavery, which can take on different forms and forms" - explains the Walk Free Foundation - "It is our responsibility to stop this crime."

How? Ensuring that our buying habits are as ethical as possible, for example buying less fast fashion, but, first, it is necessary that the first nations of the world are responsible for their contributions to modern slavery.

"Too often, the onus of eliminating modern slavery is placed only on the countries where the crime is perpetrated" - wrote the organization on its website - "They certainly have a responsibility, but they are not alone in this regard. An atrocity as large and pervasive as modern slavery requires a united, global response."