Modern Day Slavery

Believe it or not, slavery isn’t over yet.

Slavery: Here and Now - In honor of the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on Dec. 1, BET.com takes a look at the modern day slavery and the toll it takes on the human family. — Naeesa AzizThe International Labor Organization estimates that 21 million people are currently trapped in slavery, with almost every country on the planet affected. (Photo: REUTERS/Alejandro Acosta)

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Slavery: Here and Now - In honor of the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on Dec. 1, BET.com takes a look at the modern day slavery and the toll it takes on the human family. — Naeesa AzizThe International Labor Organization estimates that 21 million people are currently trapped in slavery, with almost every country on the planet affected. (Photo: REUTERS/Alejandro Acosta)

Close to Home - Although we often hear tales of slavery occurring in far flung locales, the U.S. State Department estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year.(Photo: REUTERS/Paulo Santos)

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Close to Home - Although we often hear tales of slavery occurring in far flung locales, the U.S. State Department estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year.(Photo: REUTERS/Paulo Santos)

A “Barbaric” Practice - President Obama spoke out against modern day slavery earlier this year, calling the practice “barbaric" and "evil.” The president also signed an executive order that strengthened protections against human trafficking for domestic federal contracts, and tightened anti-trafficking rules for government contracts abroad. (Photo: T.J. Kirkpatrick-Pool/Getty Images)

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A “Barbaric” Practice - President Obama spoke out against modern day slavery earlier this year, calling the practice “barbaric" and "evil.” The president also signed an executive order that strengthened protections against human trafficking for domestic federal contracts, and tightened anti-trafficking rules for government contracts abroad. (Photo: T.J. Kirkpatrick-Pool/Getty Images)

What Is Modern Day Slavery? - While modern day slavery can take various forms and be called by many different names, a few characteristics are always present according to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center:1. slave-like exploitation through fraud, force or coercion;2. physical abuse and/or psychological intimidation; and3. the inability to leave the situation.(Photo: REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom)

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What Is Modern Day Slavery? - While modern day slavery can take various forms and be called by many different names, a few characteristics are always present according to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center:1. slave-like exploitation through fraud, force or coercion;2. physical abuse and/or psychological intimidation; and3. the inability to leave the situation.(Photo: REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom)

What Is Human Trafficking? - Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery often discussed in the media and occurs when someone commits an act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through a use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them.  (Photo: REUTERS/Tobin Jones/AU-UN IST)

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What Is Human Trafficking? - Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery often discussed in the media and occurs when someone commits an act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through a use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them.  (Photo: REUTERS/Tobin Jones/AU-UN IST)

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Slavery in Your Pocket - Anti-slavery advocacy site ProductsofSlavery.org says many of the products we use every day are made by victims of human trafficking. Items like rice, chocolate, cellphones and Christmas decorations are just a few that are likely to be produced by forced labor.   (Photo: Courtesy of ProductsofSlavery.org)

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Slavery in Your Pocket - Anti-slavery advocacy site ProductsofSlavery.org says many of the products we use every day are made by victims of human trafficking. Items like rice, chocolate, cellphones and Christmas decorations are just a few that are likely to be produced by forced labor.   (Photo: Courtesy of ProductsofSlavery.org)

All Walks - “Every day, in all regions of the world, women are trafficked, sold and locked in brothels for sexual exploitation. Little girls are forcibly married, sexually abused and used as domestic workers. Children work in mines, setting explosives and breathing toxic dust. Others are abducted and turned into soldiers, obliged to kill and torture. Men, separated from their families, are forced to work in plantations or locked in clandestine factories without any salary to repay never-ending debts,” said U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.  (Photo: REUTERS/Marisela Murcia)

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All Walks - “Every day, in all regions of the world, women are trafficked, sold and locked in brothels for sexual exploitation. Little girls are forcibly married, sexually abused and used as domestic workers. Children work in mines, setting explosives and breathing toxic dust. Others are abducted and turned into soldiers, obliged to kill and torture. Men, separated from their families, are forced to work in plantations or locked in clandestine factories without any salary to repay never-ending debts,” said U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.  (Photo: REUTERS/Marisela Murcia)

India’s Debt Slaves - In India, bonded laborers are forced into grueling physical labor to repay those who gave them or their forefathers an advance or a loan. Advocates say many of these laborers cannot read and are never shown a balance sheet to explain when their debt will finally be paid.      (Photo: REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar)

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India’s Debt Slaves - In India, bonded laborers are forced into grueling physical labor to repay those who gave them or their forefathers an advance or a loan. Advocates say many of these laborers cannot read and are never shown a balance sheet to explain when their debt will finally be paid.      (Photo: REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar)

African Children Sold and Shipped - A recent report showed children from several West African countries are being sold to “traders” in Britain by poor parents who are sold the dream of a better life.Once in the U.K., the children are used to obtain housing and other welfare benefits and exploited for labor as domestic slaves or sent to work in restaurants and shops.  (Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

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African Children Sold and Shipped - A recent report showed children from several West African countries are being sold to “traders” in Britain by poor parents who are sold the dream of a better life.Once in the U.K., the children are used to obtain housing and other welfare benefits and exploited for labor as domestic slaves or sent to work in restaurants and shops.  (Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Women and Children - According to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, nearly three out of every four victims of modern day slavery are women and half are children. (Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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Women and Children - According to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, nearly three out of every four victims of modern day slavery are women and half are children. (Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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How You Can Help - One of the most powerful ways you can help is to inform yourself about modern day slavery and share your knowledge with others. You can also write to retailers expressing concern and ask them to use fair labor. When possible, you can choose to buy fair-trade products and you can ask your favorite stores to carry more of these products.  (Photo: Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images)

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How You Can Help - One of the most powerful ways you can help is to inform yourself about modern day slavery and share your knowledge with others. You can also write to retailers expressing concern and ask them to use fair labor. When possible, you can choose to buy fair-trade products and you can ask your favorite stores to carry more of these products.  (Photo: Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images)

Report It - If you learn of instances of human trafficking occurring here in the U.S., call the FBI's hotline at 1-888-428-7581 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST or call your local FBI office. (Photo: REUTERS/Rickey Rogers /Landov)

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Report It - If you learn of instances of human trafficking occurring here in the U.S., call the FBI's hotline at 1-888-428-7581 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST or call your local FBI office. (Photo: REUTERS/Rickey Rogers /Landov)