Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking as a Global Crime

Contemporary trafficking is much more diverse and complex than the slave trade of the past, and it has a global character because every country faces this problem as a source, transit point, and/or destination for human trafficking. The end of the Cold War, globalization, free trade, and economic competition are some of the main factors that led to the greater mobility of products and people. Furthermore, unemployment; population growth; poverty; corruption; gender, ethnic, and racial discrimination; political instability; and natural disasters are some of the main push factors that can be paired with the pull factors of demand for workers, opportunities for a better quality of living, and possibilities to live in a more stable and affluent place. Therefore, demand and supply in the modern world have increased, hence making human trafficking the fastest-growing crime, with enormous profits, which are estimated at $10–$32 billion annually. Beyond the actual criminals who exploit and enslave human beings, there are plenty of legitimate enterprises and citizens that benefit by ignoring this egregious phenomenon. For instance, many people would buy well-priced clothes made by trafficked workers, or they would hire a domestic laborer to take care of their children and homes.

Human Traffickers and their Practices

The profession of traffickers varies, and they often have high social status and education. Traffickers can be former prostitutes, military and law enforcement personnel, lawyers, diplomats, and employees of multinational organizations. Recruitment techniques vary depending on the level of victims’ education, the expectations of the victims and their families, and their financial situation. For instance, traffickers recruit victims from poor families by personal contact, deceiving families that once their debt to the traffickers is paid off, victims will be free to earn their own money. Traffickers often move individuals by long routes and in cruel conditions (e.g., cargo vessels, no medical care) using every known form of transportation and, hence, they need a military-like intelligence network to successfully avoid certain obstacles such as police and border checkpoints. Their activity is often facilitated by a number of other professionals from the legitimate world, such as travel agents, hotel owners, newspaper publishers and advertisers for the promotion of their products and services, and nightclub owners. Trafficking networks often interact with other criminals to obtain falsified documents, arrange false marriages, intimidate the victims of trafficking, and launder their profits.

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