Forced prison labor = modern slavery
From Miriam Karmali, Freedom United
State sanctioned prison slavery in the U.S. is a huge problem but often overlooked as a modern slavery issue.
We’re trying to change that. It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start when talking about modern slavery and the prison system which is why we developed this helpful resource to guide conversations!
Check out our resource on prison labor to learn more about why prison slavery still exists in the U.S. and around the world, and pass the message on by sharing it with your friends and family!
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Not all prison labor is forced labor, but the setting involves unique modern slavery risks because of its inherent power imbalance and because incarcerated people have few avenues to challenge abuses behind bars.
The United States, which has the world’s largest prison population, aimed to abolish slavery with the Thirteenth Amendment of 1865. Despite its stated objective to abolish slavery, under the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution slavery and involuntary servitude remain legal as punishment for a crime through the “Exception Clause”.
Though the International Labour Organization states that incarcerated people should not be forced to work under threat of penalty,[1] it is evident how the prison industrial complex in the U.S. falls far short of these international standards. People incarcerated in the vast U.S. prison system report being threatened with solitary confinement,[2] limited visitation rights, physical abuse,[3] limited access to food and longer sentences[4] if they refuse to work.
This is not only a human rights issue but a racial justice issue. According to the Sentencing Project: “Black men are six times as likely to be incarcerated as white men […] For Black men in their thirties, about 1 in every 12 is in prison or jail on any given day.”[5]
Keep an eye on ieyenews next week! We’ll be sharing updates from Freedom United and how you can get involved in our campaign to amend the 13th in the U.S. for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
In solidarity,
Miriam and the team supporting the Freedom United community
[2] https://www.freedomunited.org/news/how-corporations-like-corcraft-benefit-prison-slavery/
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/23/prisoner-speak-out-american-slave-labor-strike
[4] https://www.freedomunited.org/advocate/end-prison-slavery/
[5] https://www.sentencingproject.org/research/
