Orphanages as sites of modern slavery

Abstract

This chapter argues that the desire of volunteers and visitors to assist orphans through orphanage tourism creates a demand for paper orphans, in turn fuelling orphanage trafficking, thus making the orphanage a site of modern slavery. Central to this chapter is how the institution of the 'orphanage' has become a business in the Global South, leading to children being exploited in line with what are considered modern slavery practices. This business model is predicated on the desire of tourists, predominantly from the Global North, to volunteer in and visit, as well as fund and sponsor, orphanages. The model relies upon a supply of orphans, which consequently drives demand for children to be recruited into orphanages and to pose as 'orphans' to garner donations and funding from volunteers and tourists.