Modern-day slavery is more prevalent than one might imagine

NEARLY 30m people live as slaves around the world, according to the inaugural Global Slavery Index by the Walk Free Foundation, which covers 162 countries. Almost half of these are in India; some are born into slavery, based on caste or other obligations. Debt bondage traps many others. In terms of prevalence, Mauritania comes out worst, where an estimated 4% of the population is considered enslaved. Walk Free, whose definition of slavery includes forced labour, child marriages and trafficked persons, reports that the practice generates $32 billion a year in profit for those who deny others' freedom. See full article.