There is plenty of literature on human trafficking. Much of the available literature relates to human trafficking on women and children. According to Laczko and Gramegna (2004) these two groups are the hardest hit by the illegal trade. In order to avoid ambiguity, most studies and books have described human trafficking as coercion or forceful involvement of people into activities against their wish for commercial gain (Laczko & Gramegna, 2004; Farrell, 2011). In spite of numerous efforts to fight the trade, the number of people affected by human trafficking is still high. A study by the Polaris Project estimates that there are about 27 million people in “modern day slavery” across the world (Polaris Project, 2011). In 2002, the Polaris project described human trafficking as the fastest growing criminalized industry in the world. It stands in second place and is ahead of the illegal arms trade. According to the Polaris project, 50% of all the victims are children while females (women and girls) represent 80% of all the victims (Polaris Project, 2011). The report also identified that 161 countries were affected by human trafficking in 2006. 127 countries were identified as sources or countries of origin, 98 (some are still origin countries) as transit countries and 137 destination countries (Polaris Project, 2011).
In spite of the numerous efforts to combat general human trafficking, there have been rising cases of child trafficking. Cases of child trafficking reported to International Organization for Migration (IOM) rose from 1565 in 2008 to 2,040 in 2011 (Farrell, 2011). This was a 27% increase. In the same period, the number of adult victims who were referred to IOM mission in 91 countries rose from 3, 012 to 3,404. There has been a growing demand for labor in labor in some industries such as the sweatshops of USA which have been termed as exploitative and modern form of slavery. These can probably be used to explain the 27% rise in the trafficking of males (Farrell, 2011).
The human trafficking industry is mainly fueled by the monetary benefits to the perpetrators. A 2004 study by Laczko & Gramegna, estimates the human trafficking industry to be worth $32 billion per year. Hard economic times have resulted in increased cases of human trafficking for an equally increasing variety of reasons. Laczko & Gramegna (2004) assert that human trafficking mainly exists to serve sexual slavery, forced labor, the extraction of organs and forced surrogacy among other reasons. Derks (2000) identified six approaches that are commonly used to address human trafficking. These are trafficking for purposes of prostitution, as a labor issue, in a context of migration, as a human rights issue, as a criminal problem and trafficking in children. According to Farrell (2011) these approaches chosen to tackle the problem of human trafficking are essential in assisting stakeholders devise workable strategies to handle the problem.
When human trafficking is differentiated into the above approaches, repressive strategies such as those that lead to empowerment of victims can be implemented. When these approaches are categorized as criminal, moral, public order or migration problem solutions involving control or punishment can be successfully sought (Derks, 2000). The trade has received renewed attention in the last two decades. The attention can be evidenced by mounting national and international concerns on human trafficking and the means available to combat it. In the USA activist groups campaigned vigorously against human trafficking in the 1990s leading to the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in October 2000. Thailand which is one of the countries hardest hit by human trafficking passed the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2008. This law prohibits trafficking in all forms and manner and prescribes stiff penalties which range from 10 year imprisonment to compensation of victims. Following the passage of these and other laws, several countries have taken a leading role worldwide in fighting human trafficking by protecting victims, prosecuting traffickers and sensitization efforts to prevent human trafficking.
Human trafficking is still shrouded in ambiguity and perpetrators are ever devising cunning ways to carry it out. Farrell (2011) acknowledges that it is at times difficult to distinguish legal migration from human trafficking. This is the trickiest part for law enforcers and immigration officers. The victims and offenders may use genuine travel documents and follow the right procedures and therefore there is no reason to suspect that human trafficking is taking place. Farrell (2011) identifies a common scenario leading to modern day human trafficking; misuse of modern communication channels. He appreciates that we are in an era where people in far paces can communicate via emails and social media such as facebook and twitter. In such cases, unsuspecting victims and especially women communicate and become friends with foreigners they meet online. The perpetrators could offer themselves to meet their “online friend” in the victim’s mother country as genuine tourists. Upon arrival, the perpetrators could arrange a hasty marriage and later find other reasons to fly back to their home countries with their spouses or friends. All this is done through legal means and full documentation obtained. Shock comes when upon arrival in a foreign land, when the host or perpetrators confiscate a victim’s travel documents and then sell them into sexual exploitation, organ extraction, rituals, and forced surrogacy among others.
Research shows that government regulations on labor and migration have a big influence on human trafficking. There are many social players involved in the movement of persons from one place to another. Where government regulations regarding labor and migration are too strict and seemingly punitive to citizens in countries such as Philippines human trafficking is relatively high. Where labor regulations are too restrictive and economically punitive, people prefer to use illegal means to obtain labor since they are cheaper and faster to obtain. The people avoid the costs emanating from transportation, visas and passports, security checks and medical examinations.
Some studies have also noted that victims of human trafficking are lured by promises of a better life in developed countries. Derks, (2000) notes that in Philippines, oversees employment is a way of gaining social status and improvement of financial position. In several other developing countries in Africa, South America and Asia, poverty levels are high and the promise of a better life lures many people into the traps of human traffickers. The Polaris project (2011) shows that 80% of victims of human trafficking come from developing countries where poverty levels are high. The empowerment of people while in their home countries is the best way to root out human trafficking (Derks, 2000). When people are economically empowered and their government is responsive to their needs, the people are less likely to fall victims of human trafficking. Derks (2000) asserts that when people are provided with basic necessities such as clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, electricity, proper medical services, jobs, good education, among other basic socio-economic needs their sense of patriotism soars. Such people are less likely to desire the ‘high life” of the developed countries which lures many people from developing countries into human trafficking.
Law enforcement and social service agency have been agreed on victim-centered approach as the most effective method in combating human trafficking (Laczko & Gramegna, 2004). In order to successfully investigate and prosecute human traffickers, the victims must be free and stable from intimidation and fear so that they can be effective witnesses. Moreover, meeting the needs of the victims also needs the victims to express themselves freely so that service providers such as counselors, doctors and therapists can understand their psychological and physical trauma (Laczko & Gramegna, 2004). As such, the professional are placed in a pole position to offer appropriate care. Laczko and Gramegna, (2004) and Derks, (2000) among others have identified the following as the basic needs of victims: safety; basic needs (clothing, food); medical care; temporary housing; interpretation/translation especially if they are not speaking English and legal assistance. In the long term the victims need alcohol and drug treatment, comprehensive care management, life skills, education and job training, social support and residential trauma treatment (Laczko & Gramegna, 2004; Derks, 2000).
Stakeholders involved in combating modern-day human trafficking are still deficient of studies to show them how to fight the trade. A lot of the literature available today does not address technologically-backed human trafficking. Moreover, the studies do not address ways to combat human trafficking that is heavily disguised through legal and proper documentation. Additionally, the role of corruption in human trafficking should be adequately addressed if people are to root out human trafficking from their societies. Most importantly, future studies should aim to provide governments with ways and means to improve the socio-economic needs of their people to curb the luring of their citizens into human trafficking.
References
Derks, A. (2000). Combating Trafficking in South Asia. A Review of Policy and Programme Responses . Genève, Organisation Internationale pour les Migrations.
Farrell, C. (2011). Human trafficking. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub.
Laczko, F., Gramegna, M. A (2004) Developing Better Indicators of Human Trafficking International Organization for Migration, Geneva. 10 Brown J. World Aff. 179.
Polaris Project (2011) Human Trafficking Statistics. Retrieved 18 June 19, 2013 from http://www.cicatelli.org/titlex/downloadable/Human%20Trafficking%20Statistics.pdf
