More than one million people in Russia today are living as modern-day slaves, Australian-based human rights group the Walk Free Foundation reported Tuesday.
They are part of an estimated 45.8 million people globally enslaved, according to the organization's 2016 Global Slavery Index. The estimate is a 28 percent increase on the 2015 figure. The number of estimated slaves in Russia has remained consistent remaining at approximately 1.05 million people.
Russia appeared in 16th place on the index, ahead of Malawi, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland in joint 17th place.
North Korea was ranked in top position, with an estimated 4 percent of the population thought to be enslaved. It was followed by Uzbekistan, Cambodia and India.
The survey also ranks governments on their response to human trafficking problems. Russia received a CC rating, which indicates that “the government has a limited response to modern slavery, with largely basic victim support services,” the report says.
Modern-day slavery comprises of human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage and commercial sexual exploitation.
