In 2021, the Global Slavery Index revealed a heartbreaking truth about the UAE. On any given day, approximately 132,000 individuals are trapped in the chains of modern slavery. It’s a deeply distressing number, a stark reminder of the suffering endured by countless souls.

When we consider the statistics, they paint a sorrowful picture. For every thousand people in the UAE, there were 13.4 individuals caught in the grip of modern slavery. Among the Arab States region, the UAE bears the burden of having the second highest number of people enslaved, after Saudi Arabia. On a global scale, it ranks seventh out of 160 countries, highlighting the magnitude of this human tragedy.

Behind these cold figures lies the anguish of vulnerable migrant women and girls, victims of deceitful criminals who dangle the illusion of promising employment opportunities. These innocents are coerced into a life of unspeakable suffering. They are forced into the darkness of sex work within the borders of the UAE.

In 2021, the Global Slavery Index revealed a heartbreaking truth about the UAE

To illustrate the harsh reality, we see cases like that of a teenage girl who fell victim to this cruel trade back in 2021. Her story is a painful testament to the depths of human depravity. The traffickers, driven by their greed, went to great lengths to deceive her.

They even went as far as forging a false passport to lure her into their clutches. Her dreams were shattered, when she arrived in the UAE. She was forced into domestic servitude and subjected to the horrors of commercial sexual exploitation.

These heart-wrenching stories remind us of the urgent need for action, for compassion, and for justice. Behind the numbers and the statistics are human lives, each one deserving of freedom, dignity, and hope.

Read more here: www.walkfree.org