Which countries in America have the highest prevalence of modern slavery?

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Seasonal and undocumented temporary workers in the agricultural sector are vulnerable to forced labor, according to a recent report by the Global Slavery Index. The report found that the Americas had the third highest rate of forced labor among the five regions, with Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Bolivia, and Peru being among the countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the region.

The report highlighted the factors that contribute to vulnerability to modern slavery in the Americas, including socioeconomic inequality, political instability, discrimination towards migrants and minority communities, and gender and gang violence. Children in the region are particularly at risk, with cases of child recruitment by armed groups, gangs, and organized crime on the rise in countries like Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and El Salvador.

The index also called for policy changes in countries like Bolivia and Peru to address modern slavery, including criminalizing forced labor, commercial sexual exploitation of children, and increasing the legal age of marriage.

In addition, the report noted that labor exploitation in US supply chains remains a widespread challenge in the region, with agricultural workers in countries exporting products to the US market being particularly affected. Situations of compulsory prison labor were also recorded in Brazil and the United States.

The most populated countries in the Americas, such as Brazil, the United States, and Mexico, were found to host the largest estimated number of people in modern slavery. However, countries like Canada, Uruguay, and Chile had lower prevalence rates in the region.

Efforts to address modern slavery in the Americas will require a concerted effort from governments, civil society, and the private sector to protect vulnerable populations and ensure their rights are upheld.