About Human
Trafficking
Human trafficking is an increasing global scourge
affecting all sectors in society. It is a complex phenomenon wherein
people are recruited, transferred or transported for the purpose of
exploitation, mainly for forced labour and sexual exploitation. Women
and children form the primary targets worldwide due largely to the
persistent inequalities they face in status and opportunity worldwide.
What is trafficking in
persons?
Trafficking in persons shall mean the
recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of
persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of
coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power
or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of
payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control
over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation
shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of
others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or
services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the
removal of organs;
Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol
to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially
Women and Children, which supplements the United Nations Convention
against Transnational Organized Crime Notes: While the SMWIPM uses
this definition
as
the
basis of its work, it looks at trafficking in a broader context,
acknowledging that trafficking can occur on a small scale without
organized criminal involvement and that women, children and men can be
trafficked within as well as between countries. |
Human trafficking most often occurs in situations of
poverty, economic
disparity, political unrest, militarism, armed conflict and natural
catastrophes. Moreover, tighter immigration controls, deregulated
labour markets, and a lack of labour inspections in receiving countries
are also contributory factors.
In an era of globalisation and increased interdependence
no region in the world is spared as volatile trafficking patterns are
employed by perpetrators ranging from cross-border neighbouring
countries to trans-regional movements, to rural and urban routes.
Different people may play many roles in facilitating human trafficking.
Furthermore, perpetrators are rarely investigated, pursued and
punished, thus creating a climate of tolerance and impunity of the
grave human rights abuse faced by the victims.
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