Definition of Human Trafficking
There are many definitions of human trafficking; one of the best ones is given by the Department of Homeland Services: “Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain” (DHS, 2015).
Why is Human Trafficking a Problem??
- Annually, millions of people are trafficked all over the world that includes developed countries.
- According to estimates, human trafficking tens of billions of dollars for traffickers per year
- After the crime of drug trafficking, human trafficking is the second most profitable type of transnational criminal activity.
- Human trafficking mostly end up remaining hidden, and it is rare that victims come forward for seeking help due to fear of the traffickers, language barriers, and/or law enforcement’s fear.
- Traffickers use methods such as coercion or fraud, to lure victims and involve them in commercial or sexual exploitation of labour.
- Traffickers look for easy targets for several reasons, including emotional or psychological vulnerability, lack of social safety, economic hardship, political instability, or natural disasters.
- The emotional trauma caused to the individual by the human traffickers can reach such intensity that many might never consider themselves as preys .
Human Rights Implications
Human trafficking includes the illegal trade of humans and using them for reproductive slavery, sexual or commercial exploitation, modern-day slavery or forced labour. All these uses of human life are against human rights and human traffickers are violating their human rights through their operation. Forced labour is one of the human rights implications of human trafficking as people are forced by traffickers to work against their will, under threat of punishment or violence. Sex trafficking is another human rights violation that is resulting from human trafficking. Traffickers identify problems of an individual and use it to bring girls into prostitution. Child trafficking is another human rights violation as children are hired, transferred, and harboured for the purpose of future exploitation. Bonded labour is another form of human rights violation as workers are forced to work as slaves due to their debt (Ajagun, 2012).
Prevention
Human trafficking is a crime and it is the responsibility of governments and the law enforcement agencies to ensure it is eliminated from the world. Governments all over the world need to take measures such as:
- Starting anti-trafficking coalition at grassroots level and making sure actions is taken for every reported case.
- Publishing and distributing public awareness materials.
- Appoint local human trafficking officials.
- Start a petition that works towards elimination of human trafficking from the world.
- Involve schools and colleges to join the petition and participate through community action.
- Counselling and assistance to people who have been trafficked and taking measures to help them re-assimilate in the society.
- Bring human traffickers to justice by involving law enforcement, attorneys, justice system, etc.
- Start building community programs in the poorest regions of the world and ensure with time cases of human trafficking are reduced.
- Encourage people to come ahead and report human trafficking.
- Make sure that people only buy products such as diamonds that are slavery or blood free.
- Aligning local, state and federal governments and making sure they are on the same wavelength on solving the problem of human trafficking.
- Helping poorer countries with resources and law assistance to capture and eliminate drug traffickers prevailing in their countries.
References
Ajagun., S.O. (2012). Implications of Human Trafficking for Human Rights: The Case of Nigeria. Retrieved 14 May 2016 from, https://globaljournals.org/GJHSS_Volume12/3-Implication-of-Human-Trafficking-for.pdf
DHS, (2015, 14 September). What Is Human Trafficking?. Retrieved 14 May 2016 from, https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking
US Department of State. (n.d.). 20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking. Retrieved 14 May 2016 from, http://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/
