The International Labour Organization (ILO) has established that at least 12.3 million people around the world are being forced to work under the threat or use of violence or other sanctions; most are in slavery.

The United Nations body's second report on the subject, A Global Alliance Against Forced Labour, was launched in May. It provides global and regional minimum estimates, showing its main manifestations as: resulting from migration and trafficking; linked to poverty and discrimination; and that which is imposed by the state.

Of the global estimate, the report notes an estimated 56 per cent are women and girls and 44 per cent are men and boys. Of that total, the ILO says at least 2.4 million have been trafficked, generating profits of around US$31.6 billion.