8 000 'enslaved' in Namibia
According to a global report, government has not responded adequately to modern slavery in Namibia.
The 2018 Global Slavery Index estimates that about 8 000 people are enslaved in Namibia, while government's response to this modern-day problem has been inadequate.
However, the estimated number of modern-day slaves in Namibia have decreased and Namibia has drastically improved its position on the global index.
Namibia was ranked 107 out of 167 countries in terms of slavery prevalence as a proportion of population.
With 0.33% of the population estimated to be livening in modern slavery it, it indicates a major improvement from the previous index.
In the 2016 index Namibia was ranked at number 17, with 0.67% of the population estimated to be livening in modern slavery.
At that time the index estimated that about 16 600 people were enslaved in Namibia.
This time around the country received a fairly poor rating for the actions government.
According to the report, Namibia received a CCC rating. This means government has implemented a limited response to modern slavery, with limited victim support services.
This is the same rating it received in 2016.
In total Namibia, received a score of 31.3 out of 100 for its government response to modern-day slavery.
In the category of 'survivors supported' it received a rating of 34.1, while for 'criminal justice' 27.8, for 'coordination & accountability' it received 18.8, for 'addressing risk' it received a score of 54.8 and for 'government and business' it received a score of zero.
The index further indicates that 44.6% of the population is vulnerable to slavery.
According to the index with 51 countries and 16% of the world's population, Africa is enormously diverse in terms of history, development, people, culture, and religion.
“On any given day in 2016, an estimated 9.2 million men, women, and children were living in modern slavery in Africa. The region has the highest rate of prevalence, with 7.6 people living in modern slavery for every 1 000 people in the region,” according to the report.
When considering the forms of modern slavery, the rate of forced marriage (4.8 victims per 1 000 people in the region) was higher than the rate of forced labour (2.8 victims per 1 000 people) in the region.
Over half of all victims of forced labour exploitation (54%) were held in debt bondage, with similar proportions of men and women in the region trapped through debt.
An estimated 400 000 people in the region were victims of forced sexual exploitation, accounting for 8% of all victims of forced and commercial sexual exploitation of children worldwide.
Within the region, Eritrea, Burundi and the Central African Republic (CAR) were the countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery. However, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RC) had the highest absolute number and accounted for over one-quarter (26.3%) of all victims in the region.
Namibia ranked 45th in terms of slavery prevalence in Africa.
ELLANIE SMIT
However, the estimated number of modern-day slaves in Namibia have decreased and Namibia has drastically improved its position on the global index.
Namibia was ranked 107 out of 167 countries in terms of slavery prevalence as a proportion of population.
With 0.33% of the population estimated to be livening in modern slavery it, it indicates a major improvement from the previous index.
In the 2016 index Namibia was ranked at number 17, with 0.67% of the population estimated to be livening in modern slavery.
At that time the index estimated that about 16 600 people were enslaved in Namibia.
This time around the country received a fairly poor rating for the actions government.
According to the report, Namibia received a CCC rating. This means government has implemented a limited response to modern slavery, with limited victim support services.
This is the same rating it received in 2016.
In total Namibia, received a score of 31.3 out of 100 for its government response to modern-day slavery.
In the category of 'survivors supported' it received a rating of 34.1, while for 'criminal justice' 27.8, for 'coordination & accountability' it received 18.8, for 'addressing risk' it received a score of 54.8 and for 'government and business' it received a score of zero.
The index further indicates that 44.6% of the population is vulnerable to slavery.
According to the index with 51 countries and 16% of the world's population, Africa is enormously diverse in terms of history, development, people, culture, and religion.
“On any given day in 2016, an estimated 9.2 million men, women, and children were living in modern slavery in Africa. The region has the highest rate of prevalence, with 7.6 people living in modern slavery for every 1 000 people in the region,” according to the report.
When considering the forms of modern slavery, the rate of forced marriage (4.8 victims per 1 000 people in the region) was higher than the rate of forced labour (2.8 victims per 1 000 people) in the region.
Over half of all victims of forced labour exploitation (54%) were held in debt bondage, with similar proportions of men and women in the region trapped through debt.
An estimated 400 000 people in the region were victims of forced sexual exploitation, accounting for 8% of all victims of forced and commercial sexual exploitation of children worldwide.
Within the region, Eritrea, Burundi and the Central African Republic (CAR) were the countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery. However, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RC) had the highest absolute number and accounted for over one-quarter (26.3%) of all victims in the region.
Namibia ranked 45th in terms of slavery prevalence in Africa.
ELLANIE SMIT
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