UN 2030 goal to end modern slavery at risk of being missed as exploitation risks rise

All UN member states have committed to ending modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour by 2030 under Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7. 

With just 5 years remaining, and a decade since the goal was first adopted, efforts are falling far short of what is needed. 

An estimated 50 million people are living in modern slavery, which is 10 million more than in 2016, according to the latest Global Slavery Index (GSI).  

The high prevalence, alongside weak legal protections and limited enforcement in many countries, shows that current efforts are not enough to meet the 2030 goal. 

Target 8.7 is part of the UN’s 2030 Agenda and aims to end modern slavery in all its forms including forced labour, human trafficking, and the worst forms of child labour. 

The number refers to its position in the UN framework. It’s the 7th target under Sustainable Development Goal 8, which promotes decent work and economic growth. 

This sets out a shared international commitment to end these forms of exploitation through legal, policy, and practical action. 

Modern slavery has also been included in the Pact for the Future, adopted at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly last year, reinforcing the need for urgent action on Target 8.7. 

However, global risks linked to modern slavery are increasing. These include escalating armed conflict, climate change, and economic inequality. 

Despite the global commitment, many governments have not taken sufficient legislative or policy action to meet Target 8.7.  

Few countries have criminalised all forms of modern slavery in line with international standards. Where laws do exist, enforcement is often weak or under-resourced. 

Mandatory human rights due diligence laws remain the exception, not the norm. In the EU, member states must support the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to protect human rights and give businesses the legal clarity to operate responsibly in global markets. 

State-imposed forced labour continues in countries like the United States, and exploitative migration systems remain largely unregulated, exposing migrant workers to abuse. 

Child marriage is still legally permitted under the age of 18 in many jurisdictions, with some countries backtracking on previous progress, including Iraq lowering the legal age of marriage to 9 for girls and 15 for boys.  

Despite calls for reform, federal governments, including the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration, have failed to take meaningful action on this issue. 

Modern slavery is still embedded in global supply chains.  

Everyday products such as clothing, electronics, seafood, and agricultural goods are often linked to exploitative labour practices. 

G20 countries alone import over US$468 billion worth of goods that are at risk of being produced with forced labour each year, according to the GSI. 

Despite this, most governments continue to rely on voluntary frameworks rather than enforce laws that hold businesses accountable.  

Few companies conduct meaningful due diligence to identify and address exploitation in their supply chains, and in most places, they are not legally required to do so. 

Meeting the 2030 deadline will require immediate, coordinated, and sustained action.  

Governments must: 

With 5 years to go, the global community must act urgently to deliver on its commitment to end modern slavery and protect those at risk of exploitation worldwide.