Forced labour and slavery-like practices deny freedom, dignity and control over one’s work and movement.
Forced labour and slavery-like practices deny freedom, dignity and control over one’s work and movement.
WHRF focus area. Forced labour occurs when work or service is exacted under threat of a penalty and is not offered voluntarily. It can occur in private industry, domestic work, agriculture, construction, sexual exploitation, detention settings and state-imposed systems.
Coercion may involve debt, recruitment fees, withheld wages or identity documents, threats, deception, restricted movement, abuse of vulnerability or retaliation against families. Migrants, displaced people, children and workers in informal sectors can face heightened risk.
The prohibition of slavery and forced labour is reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ICCPR and core International Labour Organization conventions. Effective prevention also requires fair recruitment, labour inspection and remedies that workers can use safely.
WHRF approaches this issue through independent research, public-interest analysis, non-partisan advocacy and cooperation with credible human-rights actors. This page identifies a focus area; it does not claim that WHRF currently operates a field programme or provides direct services in a particular country.
Contact WHRF if your organization has relevant evidence, expertise or a responsible partnership proposal.
Last reviewed: 20 October 2026.
