Some 200 years have passed since the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, yet slavery as we know it has still not ended. It has, instead, evolved and exists today under a different guise – that of human trafficking, one of the most horrendous crimes against humanity. The victims of this new form of slavery are often kidnapped or enticed under false pretences, then held against their will. Many of them are forced to work long hours, under terrible conditions and without pay. Others are beaten, sexually abused, locked away or starved into submission.

Each year, thousands of people are trafficked across borders and exploited especially for sexual services or as cheap labor. Due to the low costs and huge profits it has become one of the most lucrative illicit industries worldwide generating tremendous profits, of over an estimated US$ 32 billion per year.

In December 2000, the international community took the bold step of crafting the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It provided a powerful legal tool that has generated the adoption of legislation and institutional frameworks at international and national levels. Despite all these efforts, human trafficking remains a tragic reality with wide-ranging social, economic and legal implications that affect all segments of society.

The lack of understanding, indeed the denial of the scope and nature of the crime, is persistent. This is due to continued challenges such as the definition of what human trafficking is, lack of data, failure to consider the labor-exploitative aspect of trafficking, poor understanding of the manifestation of the crime at the local level, and a lack of capacity to address the issue at all levels. Consequently, human trafficking has become the third largest industry in the criminal world of today with more slaves at work than there has ever been at any point in history. Thousands of persons are trafficked each year falling victim to sexual exploitation, forced labor including child labor and other forms of exploitation. This modern form of slavery is a covert activity involving hidden populations and manifests itself in various forms in different parts of the world.