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Understanding Human Trafficking

Delve into the complex legal frameworks and human rights implications surrounding the illicit trade and exploitation of human beings. This subject sheds light on the critical role of law enforcement and international cooperation in combating this global scourge and protecting victims’ rights.

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KEY POINTS

A QUICK REFRESH

Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to get someone to perform labor or sex acts in exchange for money or something else of value such as a place to live or an addictive drug.

  • Trafficking has nothing to do with moving something or someone from one country to another. That is smuggling, which is a crime against a border, not a person; people can be trafficked in their own homes.
  • Force, fraud or coercion MUST be present for a situation to be trafficking and that force, fraud or coercion MUST be the factor that compels the person to remain in the situation. If you hire someone and promise to pay a certain amount then renege on that promise, that is fraud. If the person you cheated is free to leave and go file a complaint it is not trafficking, though it may be exploitation. This situation only becomes trafficking when the defrauded person is, for example, threatened with deportation for complaining.
  • The EXCEPTION to the force, fraud or coercion requirement is that children participating in commercial sexual activity is ALWAYS considered trafficking under federal law. There is no such thing, under federal law, as a child prostitute.
  • Not all adult commercial sex is trafficking. There are adults who choose to make a living in the sex trades, but it’s important to remember that choice exists on spectrum. For example, there are many people who choose to make a living in the sex trades because there are no other good options available to them.
  • Human trafficking can happen in any business – not just in sexually oriented businesses like escort services or strip clubs. It can also happen where no business exists in any formal sense – such as within families.
  • While human trafficking CAN happen to anyone, certain individuals and groups of people are far more vulnerable than others.
  • People being trafficked will not always or even often identify as trafficking victims. Because of how trafficking works, most people do not identify their experience as trafficking until AFTER the situation is over.
Dark Secrets: Child Trafficking and Global Responsibility

Dive into our in-depth analysis of child trafficking and global responsibility. Uncover the dark secrets surrounding this topic and raise awareness about the importance of this global challenge. Explore with us and find out how we can make a difference together!

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Human Trafficking: The Sinister Face of Forced Displacement

In our article "Human Trafficking: The Sinister Face of Forced Displacement," delve into a detailed analysis of this global issue. Discover how human trafficking affects victims in the context of armed conflict. 

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Concepts and Definitions
  1. Evolution of the Concept of Human Trafficking
  2. Definition of Human Trafficking
  3. Various Stages of Trafficking
  4. Human Trafficking Smuggling and Migration
  5. Trafficking and Prostitution
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Types of Human Trafficking ​
  1. Trafficking for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation
  2. Human Trafficking for the Purpose of Labour
  3. Human Trafficking for Medical Purposes
  4. Trafficking for Entertainment
  5. Trafficking for Sports
  6. Trafficking of Children for Engagement as Child Soldiers
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Causes of Human Trafficking 

  1. Causes of Human Trafficking: Demand Factors
  2. Causes of Human Trafficking: Supply Factors


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Dimension of Human Rights, Women and Child Rights
  1. Human Rights
  2. Human Trafficking and Human Rights
  3. Women’s Rights Dimension of Human Trafficking
  4. Child Rights Dimension of Human Trafficking
  5. Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking
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Push and Pull Factors to Human Trafficking
  1. Various Factors Leading to Trafficking
  2. Push Factors
  3. Pull Factors
  4. Demand Factors
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Labor Trafficking: The basics

  1. Migrants, immigrants and domestic work
  2. Domestic work in marriage
  3. Exploitation of disabilities
  4. Exploitation of addiction
  5. Fraudulent job offers
  6. Recruitment fees and debt bondage
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Sex Trafficking: The basics

  1. Romeo pimps or “boyfriending”
  2. Familial trafficking
  3. Child trafficking
  4. Online Trawling
  5. Survival sex
  6. Exploitation of addiction
  7. Exploitation of disabilities
  8. Gangs
  9. “CEO pimping”
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Why Facebook and Instagram have become platforms for child sex trafficking

  1. The surviving victims
  2. The court documents and the prosecutors
  3. The responsibility to report
  4. The moderators
  5. The limits of the law
  6. The consequences
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The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children

In this issue, "The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children," we will examine this vital protocol aimed at protecting the most vulnerable segments of the population. 

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The Palermo Convention and the Fight against Human Trafficking: An Effective Approach?

Join us on this informative journey that will challenge your knowledge and invite you to reflect on this important topic. Onward, adventurers of justice!

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Myths & Facts

Over the years we have heard from thousands of victims and survivors and we have also learned about many myths and misconceptions that people may have about human trafficking. Here we dispel some of the most common ones.

Reality: By far the most pervasive myth about human trafficking is that it always - or often - involves kidnapping or otherwise physically forcing someone into a situation. In reality, most human traffickers use psychological means such as tricking, defrauding, manipulating or threatening victims into providing commercial sex or exploitative labor.

Fact: Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to get another person to provide labor or commercial sex. Globally, experts believe there are more instances of labor trafficking than sex trafficking. However, there is far greater awareness of sex trafficking globally than labor trafficking.

Fact: There have been several cases of human trafficking involving foreign survivors who are legally living and/or working in a foreign country. These include survivors of sex and labor trafficking.

Reality: Human trafficking cases have been reported and prosecuted in industries including restaurants, cleaning services, construction, factories and more.

Reality: One study estimates that as many as half of sex trafficking victims and survivors are male. Advocates believe that percentage may be even higher but that male victims are far less likely to be identified. LGBTQ boys and young men are seen as particularly vulnerable to trafficking.

Reality: Human trafficking is often confused with human smuggling, which involves illegal border crossings. In fact, the crime of human trafficking does not require any movement whatsoever. Survivors can be recruited and trafficked in their own home towns, even their own homes.

Reality: All commercial sex involving a minor is legally considered human trafficking. Commercial sex involving an adult is human trafficking if the person providing commercial sex is doing so against his or her will as a result of force, fraud or coercion.

Reality: Initial consent to commercial sex or a labor setting prior to acts of force, fraud, or coercion (or if the victim is a minor in a sex trafficking situation) is not relevant to the crime, nor is payment.

Reality: That is sometimes the case. More often, however, people in trafficking situations stay for reasons that are more complicated. Some lack the basic necessities to physically get out - such as transportation or a safe place to live. Some are afraid for their safety. Some have been so effectively manipulated that they do not identify at that point as being under the control of another person.

Fact: Labor trafficking occurs in other developed countries, but is reported at lower rates than sex trafficking.

Reality: Many survivors have been trafficked by romantic partners, including spouses, and by family members, including parents.