A/HRC/12/21 page 16 71. According to ILO, direct bondage of women appears to be on the increase in commercial large-scale agriculture production.24 In addition, a high incidence of bonded labour is found in brick making, domestic service, carpet weaving and mining. Women provide the majority of the labour force in these industries, except for mining.25 72. In some societies, women and children can traditionally be bonded through a male head of household to work to pay off debts he has contracted. The debts are often incurred for social ceremonies, e.g. weddings and funerals, as well as for maternal and child health care. Increases in domestic violence and rising alcoholism, mostly among men, have been linked to problems repaying debts. The entire family usually works off the debt as agricultural labourers. In addition, the women and children are also expected to do domestic work. Women and girls engaged in domestic work are often exposed to sexual violence. 73. Women also form the majority of domestic migrant workers who find themselves in situations of forced labour with restrictions on their freedom of movement, often working long hours and having their identity documents taken away from them by their employers. 74. In situations where women are directly bonded, they are often charged higher interest rates, making it more difficult for them to repay the debts. Their wages are also generally lower than those of men. 75. Gender inequalities and discrimination play an important role in contributing to women’s vulnerability to bonded labour. The combined effects of low education levels, workplace discrimination, exclusion from family decision-making processes and lack of familial property rights increase women’s vulnerability to labour exploitation and dependency and thus make them susceptible to bondage. IV. LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK A. International instruments 76. Slavery is prohibited in international human rights law. Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “no one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms”. In addition, article 23 states that everyone has the right to just and favourable conditions of work and remuneration, and to equal pay without discrimination, and article 24 stipulates that everyone has the right to reasonable working hours. 24 Ibid. 25 Ibid.