Human Trafficking

What is Human Trafficking? Human trafficking may be defined as a process of recruitment and transportation of an individual from their community or country of origin to a destination, through the use of deception or force, for the purposes of financial exploitation.

• Human Trafficking may be classified as a modern form of slavery. • It is a serious crime and global phenomenon involving the violation of an individual’s basic human rights.

What is human trafficking?

Who are the perpetrators?

Who are the victims?

Why are people trafficked?

How are people exploited?

AND MORE!

A Guide for the Rest of Us!

FOR DUMMIES

Three constituent elements of human trafficking according to Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.

Elements of Human Trafficking The Act

(What is done) Recruitment, Transportation, Transfer, Harbouring or Receipt of persons

The Means (How it is done)

Threats or use of force, Coercion, Fraud, Deception, Abuse of power or vulnerability or Giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim

The Purpose (Why it is done)

Exploitation, including: Prostitution of others; Sexual exploitation; Forced labour; Slavery or similar practices; Removal of organs and Other forms of exploitation

* The exploitation of individuals for financial gain can take on various forms of labour, including domestic work, begging, street sales and prostitution, to name a few.

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Who are the perpetrators? The perpetrators of human trafficking are called “traffickers”.

• Traffickers seek out vulnerable people to exploit for financial gain using false promises, coercion and/or force.

• Traffickers are a diverse group and include a wide range of criminals working on many different levels, including individuals, small criminal groups or large-scale organized crime networks.

KNOW THE FACTS ON HUMAN

TRAFFICKING

The perpetrators behind human trafficking around the world are most often women (UNODC, 2009).

KNOW THE FACTS ON

HUMAN

Who are the victims? There is no standard description of a trafficked person nor can generalizations be made about how they will react to their situation. Each trafficked person has a different story, a unique experience, and a different response and/or perception to what has happened to him/her.

While there is no “typical” definition of a trafficked person, victims may share some common characteristics. Some of the characteristics are listed below.

* It is important to exercise caution when reviewing the characteristics of a victim. Identifying a potential victim is not considered to be a general observation; it is a process, which requires looking for all the possible signs, asking the appropriate questions, listening for information and discovering through interviews and discussions possible indicators that exploitation has occurred.

KNOW THE FACTS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

An estimated 2.5 million people are forced in labour

(including sexual exploitation) at any given

time (ILO, 2007).

* It is important not to conform to the stereotypes people hold of traffickers—they are usually people that the victim knows on a personal basis, such as trusted family members, friends or community members.

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Identifying a Victim of Trafficking Physical Indicators Emotional Indicators

• Appearance of extreme exhaustion (dark circles under the eyes or puffy eyes, slow body movements)

• Ashen complexion • Appearance of malnourishment • Signs of physical abuse (bruises, black

eyes, burns, scars) • Appearance of general poor health (teeth,

hair, skin) • Complaints of stress-related physical

reactions

• Feeling afraid, ashamed, embarrassed, uncertain

• Feeling responsible/at fault • Feeling anxious, nervous, worried

Depressed, Confused • Re-experiencing trauma through dreams,

thoughts, or daily triggers (PTSD) • Feeling outside of own body or life

(depersonalization) Avoidance of feelings

Behavioural Cues Practical Indicators • Being evasive • Changing story

Showing anxiety, nervousness • Denying, minimizing or validating

situation • Demonstrating submissive behaviour • Being reluctant to speak or to disagree • Not knowing the language • Not knowing his/her own phone number

• Lack of passport, identity card, travel documents, birth certificate

• May identify him or herself with a false passport

• The person may only provide a first name • The person may know by heart all the

information on the passport or identification paper but may not be able to give specific details or explain inconsistencies

• Person may provide evidence of being unable to move or leave their job

Why are people trafficked? Human trafficking occurs when a person exploits another person’s situation or condition for the purpose of achieving a personal profit. The root causes of human trafficking are extensive and it is considered a multi-dimensional problem. Some of the potential causes are listed below.

Potential Causes of Trafficking

Countries of Origin (Where potential victims may be

found)

Countries of Destination (Where victims are transported)

Universal Factors

Poverty Unemployment Lack of Opportunities Political and humanitarian crisis Situations of armed conflict and oppression Gender discrimination Lack of access to information and education

Need for Inexpensive labour in a variety of sectors (agriculture, domestic servitude, etc) Demand for women in sex industry

Restrictive immigration policies Lack of public awareness about trafficking High profits for those in criminal organizations A lack of effective anti-trafficking legislation Disintegration of social protection schemes

KNOW THE FACTS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The United Nations has estimated that the total

market value of illicit human trafficking is US$32

billion (ILO, 2005).

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How are people exploited?

Type of Exploitation Exploitative Environment Sexual Pornography

Prostitution Agencies (employment, au pair, modelling) Nightclubs, bars, cafes

Economic Domestic work (child care, house cleaning) Construction work (carpentry, renovation, tile laying) Hospitality services (restaurants, bars, night shops) Agriculture (fruit sector, greenhouse, farming) Food industry (slaughterhouse, canneries) Street sales (pirated CD/DVDs, flower selling, advertisement leaflets) Agencies (sub-contracting, employment) Automotive and ship work (professional transport, car washes, port work)

Marriage Forced marriages Fake marriages Marriages with minors

Criminal Begging Pick-pocketing Drug smuggling

Child Trafficking Illegal adoption Kidnapping Begging Forced marriage

Human trafficking is a global phenomenon affecting all countries. Many believe this crime takes place “underground”, in illegal markets or industries that cater to criminal activity. The reality is human trafficking occurs within legitimate settings including hotels and restaurants.

• Wherever there is a demand for cheap labour (or sexual services) human trafficking may flourish.

• The type of exploitation and environments in which victims of trafficking may be found is quite diverse; similarly, traffickers are continually seeking new venues for and means of exploiting people.

Some of the types of exploitation and the environments in which they can be found are listed below.

KNOW THE FACTS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Many trafficking victims have at least middle-

level education (IOM, 1999).

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What are the consequences of trafficking? The consequences of human trafficking are wide-ranging and diverse, which may affect victims and the countries concerned in various ways.

• For countries of origin and destination, consequences of human trafficking may include an increase in irregular migration. A second consequence may be the increased presence of organized crime, engaged in diverse illegal activities including drugs, theft, the exploitation of sex workers and other criminal activities.

• For victims, the consequences of human trafficking can be exponential. The first consequence being a serious violation to their human rights. Victims may be exposed to daily hazards including physical and psychological coercion, abuse and routine violence. Given their working conditions and environment, victims are also exposed to a variety of serious health risks (please see below). The health risks associated with trafficking reflects the cumulative effects victims often face during the trafficking process—most people who are trafficked are exposed to health risks before, during and after the trafficking process.

Physical Sexual Psychological Social

• Malnourishment • Serious dental

problems • Infectious disease

(Tuberculosis) • Undetected or

untreated diseases (diabetes or cancer)

• Bruises, scars or other signs of physical abuse and torture

• Chronic back, hearing, cardiovascular problems…

• STDs • HIV/AIDS • Pelvic pain • Rectal trauma • Urinary

difficulties • Unwanted

pregnancy • Infertility • Infection or

mutilations …

• Substance misuse • Psychological

trauma • Depression • Stress-related

disorders • Disorientation • Confusion • Feelings of

helplessness, shame, humiliation, shock, denial or disbelief

• Suicidal ideation and attempts…

• Integration or re-integration problems

• Discrimination • Racism • Stigmatization • Inability to access

care • Isolation • Linguistic or

cultural barriers…

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