The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) has provided a comprehensive definition of human trafficking in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children”(also known as ‘Palermo Protocol’) of 2000:
Whilst many people associate human trafficking with migration, the definition in the Palermo Protocol covers anyone who has been obtained through force, coercion or fraud and has been subjected to forced labour, forced commercial sex or involuntary servitude qualifies as a trafficking victim, whether they have been transported or moved anywhere or not.
Men women and children are trafficking into three main areas of slavery:
Poverty is a major driver of the human trafficking industry. Those trapped in poverty are keen to obtain a better life for themselves and their families, and these vulnerable people are preyed on by unscrupulous people offering jobs, training, opportunities, remuneration and better life prospects.
There are a number of main ways that people initially become trafficked:
Every country in the world is either an origin country (ie source), a transit country or a destination country for human trafficking. UNODC data shows trafficking of human beings from 127 countries, to be exploited in 137 countries.
Regions that are main ‘origin’ areas are Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern European countries, former Eastern bloc and Soviet Union countries, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Highest origin countries are Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Lithuania, Nigeria, Republic of Moldovia, Romania, Russian Federation, Thailand and Ukraine
Main Destination areas are Western Europe, Western Africa, Asia, Arab Nations and North America. The highest destination countries are Belgium, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey, USA.
It is very hard, if not impossible, for a trafficked person to escape unless they are rescued. They are held as prisoners, often in isolated places, and are beaten or tortured for any disobedience or escape attempt. Trafficked persons are often trapped in a foreign country with no language skills, money or identification documents, and know no one who can help them if they do escape. Due to corruption, there is suspicion of police, and Traffickers often hold identification documents, so know their former home address, and threaten violence against a trafficked persons family for any escape attempt. Often those who escape cannot return home because of the risk of being trafficked again or because they can identify traffickers, and because their communities may reject them for cultural reasons if they have been involved used in the sex industry, even though it was not their choice. Many trafficked persons have a very short life span. Those working in forced labour may die from malnutrition, disease, accident and/or injury, or other causes, whilst most of those forced into the sex industry quickly contract sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS and may also suffer from malnutrition, or from injuries from sexual violence or punishment. Some commit suicide because of the atrocities they are forced to endure.