Breaking the chain: The fight against human trafficking
A blog by Aneesa Ali, Young Expert at GHRH
Introduction
Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery where people are exploited and forced to work against their will. Traffickers use deception, coercion, or violence to lure victims into situations of forced labour or sexual exploitation.
Common forms of human trafficking include sex trafficking (forcing individuals into prostitution, pornography, or other sexual acts); forced labour (exploiting people through unpaid or underpaid work, often in harsh conditions); domestic servitude (trapping individuals in domestic work with minimal pay or no rights); forced marriage (coercing individuals into marriages they don’t consent to); forced crime (compelling victims to engage in criminal activities like theft or drug dealing); or organ harvesting (removing organs from victims for illegal sale)[1].
Victims of human trafficking can be of any age, gender, or background. However, women and girls are disproportionately affected, accounting for 65% of all trafficking victims globally[2]. Additionally, among the detected female victims, more than 90% are trafficked for sexual exploitation[3].
The Reality of Women’s Human Trafficking
A 2020 study in Bangladesh highlighted how rigid social norms and gender based vulnerabilities increase the risk of human and child trafficking[4]. This underscores the disproportionate impact on marginalised groups, particularly women, girls, and children. Deep rooted gender stereotypes, power imbalances, religious beliefs, and limited access to justice can normalise harmful practices like women and child sexual exploitation and trafficking.
A recent study on child sexual exploitation in Peru uncovered a concerning reality: at least 245 out of 395 reported human trafficking cases involved sexual exploitation, primarily affecting women and girls[5]. To add to this, human Trafficking for sexual exploitation is a highly profitable criminal industry, generating an estimated $99 billion annually[6]. The 2020 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons revealed a disturbing trend: one third of all trafficking victims are children, predominantly girls[7].
To combat the rising tide of women and children trafficked annually, the United Nations adopted the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, in 2000[8]. However, the 2020 UNODC report stressed the urgent need for enhanced prevention and response strategies, as child trafficking his tripled in the past 15 years, the increasing use of technology and globalisation have facilitated transnational movement, making it easier for traffickers to exploit vulnerable individuals[9].
The Impact of Human Trafficking on Women and Girls
Human trafficking has devastating physical and mental health consequences. Victims often endure the loss of fundamental human rights and childhood experiences, as well as familial disruption. The psychological toll is severe, often leading to anxiety, PTSD, depression, and substance abuse.
Research indicates that women trafficked for sex experience heightened fear, isolation, and trauma compared to other crime victims. They face alarming rates of physical and sexual violence, memory loss, sexually transmitted diseases, and traumatic brain injuries.
Depression, anxiety and PTSD are prevalent among survivors of sex and labour trafficking, with women disproportionately affected. A 2016 study in England revealed that 78% of female and 40% of male trafficking survivors exhibited significant symptoms of these conditions[10]. Furthermore, a more recent 2022 study suggests that sex trafficking victims may develop Stockholm syndrome, an emotional bond with their abuser[11]. Substance misuse and addiction are also common behavioural health issues among survivors.
Factors and Causes
There are many factors and causes that explain why human trafficking disproportionately affects women and girls. For example, gendered poverty, lack of viable employment opportunities, lack of control over financial resources and limited access to education are all factors that can exacerbate the vulnerability of women and girls to trafficking. Additionally, gender-based violence and cultural norms that normalise such violence contribute to the cycle of violence against women and makes them more vulnerable to trafficking.
Labour and migration laws that lack a human rights and gender sensitive approach may restrict women’s ability to move freely and change employment, which increases the likelihood that women will seek employment in unregulated and informal sectors. This subsequently increases women’s vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation.
Finally, in the absence of the rule of law during crises, women and girls can become highly vulnerable to different forms of exploitation. This is due, for example, to the fact that women and girls can be targeted by armed groups for sexual slavery, domestic servitude and forced and child marriages.
Conclusion
The pervasive issue of human trafficking, particularly its impact on women and girls, demands urgent global attention. This modern-day form of slavery exploits vulnerabilities, shattering dreams and leaving lasting scars. By understanding the root causes, such as gender-based violence, poverty, and lack of opportunities, we can take significant steps towards prevention.
Strengthening legal frameworks, empowering women, and girls, and raising awareness are crucial. International cooperation is essential to dismantle trafficking networks and provide support to survivors.by working together, a world can be created, where no one if forced into a life of exploitation.
*The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the Young Experts and do not necessarily reflect the views or official positions of the Girls Human Rights Hub. The content shared here is intended to provide insights and perspectives on girls human rights and human rights issues, but it is important to recognise that individual opinions may vary.
References
Metropolitan Police ‘Human trafficking’ < https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/ms/human-trafficking/ >
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ‘Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2020’ UNODC Research < https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/tip/2021/GLOTiP_2020_15jan_web.pdf >
Winrock International ‘Project Ashshash Phase II: For Men and Women Who Have Escaped Trafficking’ Aicha Traore and Dipta Rakshit < https://winrock.org/projects/ashshash-2/ >
ECPAT ‘Country Overview A report on the scale, scope and context of the sexual exploitation of children’ November, 2021 < https://ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ECO_PERU_24Nov2021_FINAL.pdf >
Equality Now A just world for women and girls ‘Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation’ < https://equalitynow.org/trafficking-for-sexual-exploitation/ >
United Nations | Office on Drugs and Crime ‘Trafficking in Persons’ < https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/glotip.html >
United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner ‘Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime’ < https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/protocol-prevent-suppress-and-punish-trafficking-persons >
ECPAT ‘Summary Paper: Sale and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes’ < https://ecpat.org/resource/summary-paper-sale-and-trafficking-of-children-for-sexual-purposes/ >
American Psychological Association ‘7 in 10 human trafficking victims are women and girls. What are the psychological effects?’ Amy Novotney, 24/04/2023 < https://www.apa.org/topics/women-girls/trafficking-women-girls >
[1] https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/ms/human-trafficking/
[2] https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/tip/2021/GLOTiP_2020_15jan_web.pdf
[3] Ibid
[4] https://winrock.org/projects/ashshash-2/
[5] https://ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ECO_PERU_24Nov2021_FINAL.pdf
[6] https://equalitynow.org/trafficking-for-sexual-exploitation/
[7] https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/glotip.html
[8] https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/protocol-prevent-suppress-and-punish-trafficking-persons
[9] https://ecpat.org/resource/summary-paper-sale-and-trafficking-of-children-for-sexual-purposes/
[10] https://www.apa.org/topics/women-girls/trafficking-women-girls
[11] Ibid