There is no doubt that modern slavery is among the international development community’s toughest challenges.
The clandestine nature of the industry makes it difficult to calculate the scale of the problem, which is exacerbated by the fact that many trafficking victims are forced into situations where they are seen and documented as criminals, such as in prostitution, or illegal immigrants.
These have not stopped groups such as the Walk Free Foundation and the International Labor Organization from trying to measure the extent and impact of modern slavery worldwide. Forced labor alone, according to ILO’s 2014 report — so far the most comprehensive analysis of the industry’s net worth — generates $150.2 billion in illegal profits globally.