Human Trafficking Information compiled by Global Nomads Group as a part of the The PULSE: Human Trafficking Videoconference

Human trafficking is a complex issue Human trafficking is a complex issue. Because the problem of human trafficking is also connected to issues such as immigration law, labor laws, and the commercial sex industry, human trafficking is often confused with these other issues. Also, misconceptions and misinformation about human trafficking makes defining human trafficking all the more difficult, but all the more important. So even if you know some information about human trafficking, you probably still have questions. Questions like… What? Where? Who? How? When?

What is Human Trafficking? Human trafficking is: Modern-Day Slavery An underground industry that makes information difficult. A $5-$9 billion dollar industry. That makes human trafficking the world’s third largest industry behind drug and weapons trading. A crime that creates 4 to 27 million victims per year.

What is human trafficking? The UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children definition: 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 giving or receiving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim, or the purpose of exploitation. The definition of exploitation includes 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.

What is human trafficking? The US Protect Act (TVPA) definition: sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age; or the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. A victim need not be physically transported from one location to another in order for the crime to fall within these definitions.

What is human trafficking? PROCESS + WAY/MEANS GOAL recruitment A threat prostitution transportation N coercion pornography transferring D abduction violence/sexual exploitation harboring fraud forced labor receiving deceit involuntary servitude deception debt bondage (unfair wages) abuse of power slavery For adults, victim consent is irrelevant if one of the Means is employed. For children, consent is irrelevant with or without the Means category.

Where is human trafficking a problem? Human trafficking is a problem all over the world. As the map shows, human trafficking is an issue that spans the globe involving countries rich and poor. Image taken from www.endexploitation.org

Who is involved in human trafficking? The recruiter gains the victim’s trust and then sells them for labor or to a pimp. Sometimes this is a boyfriend, a neighbor, or even a family member. The trafficker is the one who controls the victims. Making the victim fearful through abuse, threats, and lies the trafficker gains power over his/her victim. The victim could be anyone. The consumer funds the human trafficking industry by purchasing goods and services. Often s/he is unaware that someone is suffering.

How can you tell if a situation is human trafficking? Identifying human trafficking can be difficult for many reasons. Victims do not identify themselves due to fear and shame. Traffickers keep their victims secluded from all forms of contact. Traffickers force their victims to be happy and tell them what to say. Many people do not know about human trafficking and do not report it even though it is happening in their community.

When will trafficking end? Trafficking is an industry that relies on money. If consumers stopped funding the human trafficking industry by purchasing goods and services related to human trafficking, the human trafficking industry would shrink until human trafficking did not exist. Goods that are certified fair trade insure that workers receive fair wages and working conditions. If consumers knew more about human trafficking, they would think twice about where they spend their money.