Introduction: Human Trafficking
Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia defines human trafficking as the recruitment of people for trafficking for two reasons: sexual exploitation or bonded or forced labor with no pay or minimum wages. It means the person exploited is in a vulnerable position, akin to modern-day slavery, and exists in almost all countries worldwide in one form or another. A rapidly growing criminal enterprise, human trafficking is carried out underground, targeting religious, ethnic, or racial minorities, as well as the poor and the unemployed (“Human Trafficking”). Carol Allais terms it a complicated phenomenon, taking place in a well-organized manner globally, where smuggling of children, women, and minority groups occurs for purposes such as prostitution, forced marriages, servitude, betting, and other criminal activities, including the removal of healthy body organs.
The Palermo Protocol of UNHCR defines human smuggling not only as recruitment but also as transportation, transfer, and abduction through any means other than real consent, abusing power, and exploiting the weakness of the victims. It includes all the reasons cited above (272). Further explaining, Pooja Theressa Stansals, in her article “Transborder Human Trafficking in Malaysian Waters: Addressing Root Causes,” argues that human trafficking is like illegal smuggling of people, but there is a difference. Smuggling is completely illegal, while human trafficking sometimes becomes legal when victims give their consent (599). It means human smuggling, whether legal or illegal, is the recruitment, transportation, and conveyance of vulnerable segments of any society across national or international borders for prostitution, forced labor, slavery, forced work, or any other abuse of vulnerable victims.
Involving a host of reasons such as poverty, economic benefits, ethnic or religious violence, wars, discrimination, and exploitation, human smuggling not only requires global but also state-level efforts with legal cover to eradicate this menace.
Phenomenon of Human Trafficking
As highlighted by Carol Allais, human smuggling is indeed a highly intricate phenomenon. Despite the clear and concise definition provided by the UNHCR Palermo Protocol, several grey areas exist where this definition may not fully apply, as Vanessa Neumann elaborates on the complexities associated with its definition and assessment.
Neumann points out that human smuggling is not merely an event but a process involving individuals who engage in smuggling vulnerable victims. Another complication she raises is that this phenomenon can sometimes transform into smuggling, especially when victims provide their full consent. This adds complexity to the challenge of evaluating cases where an individual transitions from smuggling based on the circumstances in which they find themselves. A third issue involves the degree of exploitation experienced by the victims, as some may refrain from testifying due to perceived economic advantages (3). This complicates the task of uncovering the true motivations behind this type of smuggling.
It becomes imperative to establish a clear distinction between smuggling and traffickings, a task that is at times hindered by ambiguities in definitions and the complex realities on the ground
Reasons of Human Trafficking
Setting aside the debate on ambiguities, Siddharth Kara, in his article “Supply and Demand,” outlines various reasons for human traffickings. He asserts that the existence of human trafficking is rooted in demand, and if there were no demand for human slavery, there would be no supply and no traffickings. Kara identifies poverty as a primary factor contributing to the demand, emphasizing that economic incentives play a crucial role. Both criminal agents and victims may resort to trafficking as a means to escape poverty, although for criminal agents, it often serves as a lucrative profit-generating activity.
In addition to poverty, other contributing factors include lawlessness, war, violence, and religious bias. Vulnerable individuals are often targeted based on gender, race, or ethnicity. Instability, military conflicts, natural disasters, and corruption are additional elements that promote this phenomenon (69). It is evident that social and economic issues give rise to human trafficking, and the phenomenon persists as it aligns with the market rule of supply and demand, meeting the labor cost-cutting goals of commercial entities.
However, this acknowledgment does not imply a lack of efforts to eradicate human trafficking. Various entities, including the UNHCR and world governments, actively work to legislate against human trafficking, achieving some success in combating this pervasive issue.
Combating Human Trafficking
Understanding the economic forces at play is crucial in combating human trafficking. Siddharth Kara proposes several measures, including strict economic policies, stringent penalties, fast and rigorous prosecution, and addressing the actual demand (71). However, he acknowledges the existence of loopholes, stemming not only from ambiguities but also from missing links in the smuggling and human trafficking networks.
Vanessa Neumann emphasizes the importance of clearing the flow of money as the first step, followed by the identification of networks. This aligns with Kara’s suggestion of ending the demand through personal efforts (50). The challenge is compounded by uncontrollable human emotions, including intemperate desires and greed. Global agencies such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), UNHCR, and even US law enforcement agencies face difficulties in their actions due to the interests of various commercial entities dominating legislation and enforcement.
A concerted and collective campaign led by the UN is deemed necessary for the eradication of human trafficking, recognizing the need to address economic, legal, and emotional factors contributing to its persistence.
Conclusion: Human Trafficking
In short, human smuggling has been an enduring issue throughout history. Driven by intemperate desires, individuals exploit the vulnerabilities of others wherever they exist. As times change, the complexity of human smuggling increases, adapting to shifting vulnerabilities. Modern traffickers exploit not only economic deprivations but also ethnic conflicts, religious discrimination, and violence to ensnare victims and transport them globally.
The intricacies between smuggling contribute to the challenges in eradicating this menace, despite the existence of global and local laws. This failure is exacerbated by the involvement of global economic forces and the fundamental rule of supply and demand in the economy. Additionally, various commercial entities have vested interests in human traffickings. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, including public awareness campaigns, legal interventions, and support from governments and multinational corporations to effectively end this pervasive menace.
Works Cited: Human Trafficking
- Allais, Carol. “Human Traffickings: Some Research Challenges for South Africa.”Acta Academica. 45.3 (2013) : 271-292. Web. 05 March 2022.
- “Human Trafficking.”Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. 2015. World Book, Inc., Chicago. Web. 05 March 2022.
- Kara, Siddharth. “Supply and Demand: Human Trafficking in the Global Economy. “Harvard International Review. (2011): 66-71. Web. 05 March 2022.
- Neumann, Vanessa. “Never Mind the Metrics: Disrupting Human Trafficking by Other Means.” Journal of International Affairs. 68.2 (2015): 1-7.Web. 05 March 2022.
- Stansals, Pooja Theresa. “Transborder Human Trafficking in Malaysian Waters: Addressing the Root Causes.”Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, 41.4 (Oct. 2010): 599-604. Web. 05 March 2022.
Relevant Questions about Human Trafficking
- What factors contribute to the prevalence of human smuggling and what are the root causes of this pervasive problem?
- How do socio-economic factors, political instability, and cultural influences contribute to the vulnerability of individuals to human smuggling?
- In addressing the issue of human trafficking, what are effective and comprehensive solutions that involve collaboration between governments, NGOs, and communities to prevent, rescue, and rehabilitate victims?
