Human Trafficking – Things to Know!
The United Nations defines human trafficking as, “the recruitment, transportation, transfer,
harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction,
fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual
exploitation.” In other cases, a person consents to being smuggling. This is
considers human smuggling – which is related to human trafficking but a
different crime. “Human trafficking
involves the consent of the person(s) being smuggled. These people often pay
large sums of money to be smuggled across international borders. Once in the
country of their final destination, they are generally left to their own
devices. Smuggling becomes trafficking when the element of force or coercion is
introduced.”
As stated in the Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2004,
slave traders prey on vulnerable woman and children, who are often forced into
prostitution. Traffickers gain their trust through coercion and trickery.
"Very often these ruses involve promises of marriage, employment,
educational opportunities, or a better life."
Victims
Most of the information available on human trafficking is
not complete and/or accurate as number of victims is unknown and most goes
unreported. From the information reported:
· 62% of victims
originated from Latin America (El Salvador 28% and Mexico 20% )
· 97 % of these
victims were female
· 97% of human
trafficking is sexual exploitation; 18% forced labor
· Worldwide,
almost 20% of all trafficking victims are children.
· Between 2001 -
2005, the United States investigated 555 human trafficking suspects, and by
2005, 78 cases had been terminated with 75 convictions
Global baseline data on trafficking patterns
According to the Global ReportFemale offenders have a more
prominent role in trafficking in persons than in other crimes. The capacity to
detect trafficking victims increased during the reporting period – the number
of victims detected increased by 27% between 2003 and 2006 (in 71 selected
countries). Female victims represented, on average, between 65 and 75% of all
victims detected between 2003 and 2006; child victims between 15 and 25%; and
male victims around 15%.
Global baseline data on legislation
According to the Global Report, before 2003, 35% of the
countries had legislation and 65% did not. As of November 2008, 80% of the
countries had legislation and 20% did not. By November 2008, 17% of countries
had a specific offense criminalizing only some forms of trafficking. At least
20% of the countries with a specific offense on trafficking in persons also use
other offense to prosecute trafficking cases.
Related Links/References
http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2004/
http://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/human-trafficking/Pages/problem.aspx
https://www.unodc.org/documents/Global_Report_on_TIP.pdf
