Child Trafficking: Problems and Solutions

Introduction
Trafficking in general refers to the passage of goods and commodities from one
person to another for an equivalent in goods or money. It also refers to buying
and selling, especially illicit trade. Today the scenario is such that there is not
only trafficking in goods and commodities but also in human beings especially
of children and women. Trafficking in women and children has become a
serious national and international concern. There are attempts being taken at all
levels (legislative, judicial, executive and social) to combat this trade.
Trafficking violates a child’s right to grow up in a family environment and thus,
exposes him/her to a lot of danger including violence and abuse. Children and
their families are often lured by the false promise of a lucrative employment and
prosperous life while others are kidnapped and sold. Over the last few decades
India has witnessed an alarming rise in human trafficking and is considered to
be one of the most criminal trades next to arms and drug smuggling. There is a
need to mobilize the public opinion in order to create awareness among the
mass about the atrocities of human trafficking, especially the trafficking of
women and children. Laws need to be designed and implemented effectively
and a constant monitoring of the situation is required in order to prevent
trafficking, especially child trafficking.
Migrationandtrafficking for work overlap with each other. Migration for better
option is subject to human rights and should not be violated, whereas trafficking
is a completely different phenomenon. It is based on deceit, coercion,etc.
resulting in exploitation causing mental and physical torture.

The only thing synonymous in both the cases is the displacement from one’s
native village or country and this common factor cannot be ignored. However,
women workers have often been subjected to violence and exploitation if some
issues are not properly taken care of. Mostly, in South Asia, where the trend of
migration for work is very high and people's movement in all parts of the world
in the form of cheap labour is also in an increasing trend, a clear-cut vision
needs to be developed about trafficking and migration for work.

The Meaning of Trafficking

The Oxford English Dictionary definestrafficas, trade, especially illegal as in
drugs. It has also been defined as the transportation of goods, the going and
coming of people or goods by road, rail, air and sea.

The Meaning of Human Trafficking

The definition of trafficking in the
UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in persons, especially
Women and Children
, is the first international definition of trafficking. It states that

Trafficking in persons' shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer,

harbouring or,receipt of persons by means ofthreat or use of force or other forms
of coercion, fraud,abduction or deception, of the abuse of power or of a position
of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve
the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of
exploitation.
Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of
others or other forms of sexual exploitationforced labour or services, slavery or
practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. However, the
term trafficking does not have an easy definition because of the very complex
nature of the problem. TheU.N. General Assemblyhas defined trafficking as
“the illicit and clandestine movements of persons across national borders,
largelyfrom developing countries, and some countries with economies in
transition, with the end goal of forcing women and girls into sexually or
economically oppressive and exploitative situations for profit of recruiters,
traffickers and crime syndicates and other activities, for example, for forced
domestic labour, false marriages, clandestine employment and false adoption.”

The Meaning of Child Trafficking

Under international law, child trafficking is a crime involving the movement of
children for the purpose of their exploitation. The concept of child trafficking
can be segmented into the following elements:
Achild -
A person under the age of 18.
Traffic

–
Recruitment, transfer, transportation, receipt or harbouring, whether by force or
not, by a third person or a group. Trafficking implies that someone has
organized the movement of a child with the immediate or ultimate aim of the
child’s exploitation. This could involve a transaction where someone receives
payment or a benefit to agree to a child being exploited. An element of
movement within a country or across borders is needed in order to distinguish
trafficking from other forms of slavery and slave like practices.
Traffickers –
All those who have contributed to the movement of the child and knew that
what they did was likely to lead to the exploitation of the child. Recruiters,
intermediaries, document providers, corrupt officials, employers, exploiters and
transporters are traffickers

Factors affecting the trafficking of children

There are several factors which lead to the trafficking of children.
Poverty is one of the reasons which make the majority of children vulnerable to
trafficking. There are many cases where children are being sold in exchange for
a sum of money. However, it should be mentioned that poverty is not the only
reason for trafficking.
Main citiesprovide the infrastructure to the traffickers to sell minors for
commercial sexual exploitation. There are numerous brothels and red light areas
in these cities which help the traffickers to buy or sell children.
Riots, calamities or political disturbancemakes children more vulnerable than
they usually are. During the time of unrest, if the men are away from home, it’s
the women and children who suffer due to the lack of security. The traffickers
take advantage of this vulnerability and may induce a woman or a desperate
child into commercial sexual exploitation.
Child Marriageanddowrystill exists in the country. Any man who does not claim
a dowry at the time of marriage is considered as the perfect groom and the
daughter is ‘disposed in marriage’. The girls are then trafficked in the name of
marriage. The groom may be no less thana pimp looking for a new victim.
Female infanticide and feticide, which is increasing day by day, is creating
disparity in the male to female ratio. As a result of this often the regions which
have a low female count take girls from the neighbouring regions in the name of
marriage for commercial sexual exploitation.

Unsafe migrationalso affects trafficking. There is a demand for sexfor the

migrated labour and there are brothels in the city which meets this demand for
cheap sexual gratification. The cities have large brothel areas and the demand
for children is very high in these cities. One of the major reasons for the
prevalence and increase in trafficking istraditional customs and socio-cultural
norms.
There are many regions where traditional forms of prostitution are practiced.
When children get into prostitution or are affected by trafficking, it has been
found that many come from homes where they have had to face abuse or where
there has been violence and tension.
Low levels of education, lack of employment opportunities, gender and
minority discriminationwill push children into vulnerable situations.
 A child has been trafficked if he/she has been moved within a country or across
borders, whether by force or not, with the purpose of exploiting the child.
The above definition has been drawn from two international instruments:
•

The concept is defined in the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish

Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, of 2000 known as the
Trafficking Protocol.
It supplements the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
•

The International Labour Organization’s

Worst forms Of Child Labour Convention,of 1999 classifies trafficking among
“forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery” and hence a worst form of
child labour to be eliminated at the earliest. The Trafficking Protocolprovides
that exploitation includes the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual
exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery,
servitude or the removal of organs. Child trafficking occurs whether the child
was moved voluntarily or by force, provided the other elements of the definition
are met. If during or soon after the child’s movement there are elements of
force, violence, unreasonable restriction of thechild’s movements from their
place of work or other harmful effects of the work on them, it would be an
indication of trafficking.

Bibliography
1.
Nair, P.M with Sen, Sankar (2005)
Trafficking in Women and Children inIndia
Orient Longman Private Limited New Delhi.2.
Khan, Intezar
Child Trafficking in India: A Concern
india.gov.in/allimpfrms/alldocs/12262.pdf

3.
Child line India Foundation
Case of Child traffickers
childlineindia.org.in
4.

Note on the definition of child trafficking

www.unicef.org/southafrica/SAF_pressrelease_notetrafficking.pdf
5.

Child line India Foundation

Rescue from Commercial Sexual Exploitation
childlineindia.org.in
6.

Child line India Foundation

Rescue from Rajmahal Circus, Akola
childlineindia.org.in
7.

Definition of Child Trafficking Elements

www.santac.org/...Trafficking/Definition-of-Child-Trafficking-Elements8.
Trafficking and HIV and AIDS
www.santac.org/eng/Human-Trafficking/Trafficking-and-HIV-AIDS9.
Trafficking in Persons Report 2009
www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/
10.

Harrison, D.L (2006 a)

Victims of Human Trafficking or Victims of Research?
www.childtrafficking.com/Docs/harrison_victims_research_oct07.pdf

11.
Centre for Economic Development and Administration(CEDA) (2003 a)
BASELINE STUDY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE CROSS
BORDER AREA OF RUPANDEHI DISTRICT
www.childtrafficking.com/Docs/ceda_2003__human_traffickin.pdf12.
Children and Families Across Borders(CAFB)
Trafficked Children
www.cfab.uk.net/what_we_do/trafficked_children.php
38 |
P a g e

13.

Child Trafficking in India

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child trafficking in India
14.
Trafficking of children
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafficking_of_children
15.

Human Trafficking
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human trafficking

16.
United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) (2005)
Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation and other Exploitative Purposes
www.unicef-irc.org/publications/38617.
HELP-Network Against Sexual Exploitation in Andhra Pradesh(NATSAP)
Trafficking in Andhra Pradesh
(2010 a) www.docstoc.com/.../trafficking-ground-realities-–-state-of-andhra-
pradesh18.
Thaindian News
Delhi High Court orders probe into child trafficking
www.thaindian.com/newsportal/...news/delhi-high-court-orders-probe-into-
child-trafficking_100145781.html19.
Worst Forms of Child Labour- India: Global March Against Child Labour
www.globalmarch.org/worstformsreport/world/india.html20.
General Assembly
Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and
Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption
Nationally and Internationally
www.globalmarch.org/worstformsreport/world/india.html

Human trafficking is the fastest increasing criminal industry in todays world, coming in second after
illegal drug-trade. This type of slaver has been traced back to the ancient Mesopotamian and
Mediterranean civilization and has continued to grow. What is human trafficking? Commonly
referred to as "modern-day slavery" is the illegal trade of human beings for forced labor or for
exploitation. Exploitation referring to the using others for prostitution or other forms of sexual
exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery, or the removal of organs. Woman and young
children...

Human Trafficking
By Madisoncook | May 2013
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Page 1 of 2
Social Justice Research

Sex trafficking is one of the most common forms or modern day slavery. “Human
Trafficking: noun: the illegal practice of procuring or trading in human beings for the purpose
of prostitution, forced labor, or other forms of exploitation.” (dictionary.com). Sex trafficking
is a crime that involves the selling of men, women, and children as sex slaves. There are
many different ways people can fall into the trap of sex trafficking. This is damaging
physically, physiologically, and spiritually. As a society, it is our job to educated on the causes
and effects of sex trafficking. With this information we then need to produce a productive
solution to sex trafficking.

There are many different causes for sex trafficking around the world depending on the
country and economic status of each country. Often times, women are lured from countries
with promises of a job or higher pay. Most of these women are from low economic
backgrounds, improvised areas, war torn countries, or places with corrupt police forces
(Bales 57). These women look for economic advantages when being promised a better life in
another country. Woman may answer false job advertisements in magazines or newspapers
for positions like nannies or housekeepers and many women also fall into the trap of fake
modeling agencies. (Malia Perry)

Human trafficking is a worldwide issue, effecting millions of people every day. Trafficking
controls a person through force, fraud and sexual exploitation. Human trafficking can affect a
person in several ways. However 2 specific ways it can affect a person are: misjudged social
standing in the community and having the freedom to live a safe and healthy life. The crime
of human trafficking can effect up to 7 million+ people each year, these people can include
men, woman, and young children. This is a thriving industry that continues to grow each and
every year. (Malia Perry)

Many people are oblivious to how serious sex trafficking really...

Continues for 1 more page »

Human Trafficking
By pamm16 | July 2013
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Page 1 of 7
WHY DOES HUMAN TRAFFICKING EXIST? BY PAMELA AMINE

Why does human trafficking exist? 1

Abstract The purpose of this research is to explore the issue of human trafficking. Human
trafficking is the illegal trade in human beings for the purposes of slavery, commercial sexual
exploitation and forced labor. Trafficking of human beings is a major problem in today's
universal society. It has been identified as the fastest growing illegal commerce on the planet.
The reason why I chose this topic is because not everyone is aware of human trafficking
being a major international problem. Despite the effort of many associations and
governments, people are still not alerted enough of this issue. I will be developing the causes
of human trafficking worldwide and the reasons behind its massive growth. Who are the
victims and who controls human trafficking? What are the hot spots for trafficking? I used
several sources such as library books, databases and eligible websites. I found out at the end
that it is the high demand that is behind the trafficking industry. More demand means more
victims.
Why does human trafficking exist? 2 Outline Thesis Statement: There are numerous causes
for human trafficking in the countries of origin and in the countries of destination. I.
Countries of origin A. Poverty 1. Lack of employment 2. Trading children for money B. Lack
of education 1. Education is only provided by international associations 2. No access to
education C. Gender discrimination 1. Feminization 2. Women and children are more subject
to the cause D. Lack of protection and awareness 1. Vulnerable victims 2. Broken promises E.
Illegal migration 1. Desperate victims searching for a better life 2. Escaping family abuse II.
Countries of destination A. Cheap laborers 1. Domestic labor 2. Slavery B. Illegal trades 1.
Prostitution 2. Women as surrogates 3. Illegal adoptions 4. Organ trafficking 5. Arranged
marriage C. Criminal organizations 1. Organized crime groups 2. Child...
Continues for 6 more pages »

humman trafficking
By harrindell | December 2013
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Page 1 of 5
Types, Causes, and Effects of Human Trafficking
When it comes to human trafficking is impossible not to think about slavery because
Trafficking in humans was once called slavery. Human trafficking is the recruitment,
transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force
or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a
position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the
consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or
other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to
slavery, servitude, and the removal of organs. In order to shed light to this growing social
issue, we need to focus on both the causes and effects that have led to human trafficking.
According The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) the causes of human trafficking
are numerous and complex. Concerning traffickers, human trafficking brings high and quick
profits with few start-up costs. The risk of prosecution is often small in most countries.
Punishment for the crime of human trafficking is lower than for trafficking drugs. Concerning
victims, interlinked causes of trafficking include poverty, gender bias, family breakdown,
violence and armed conflict, displacement, various discriminatory policies in receiving
countries, increased use of technology and demographic factors. The gender bias is a factor
that make Women and girls at particular risk of becoming victims of trafficking due to
diverse factors, such as the high global prevalence of violence and discrimination against
women; unequal access to education and the consequent lack of good employment
opportunities which may render women more susceptible to false promises of work abroad;
the lack of legal channels of entry for unskilled...
Continues for 4 more pages »

Definiton

After a synopsis of the historical evolution, this section will primarily provide for a definition
to the term human trafficking. Formulating the appropriate terminology to describe Human
Trafficking remains a persisting challenge. The majority of these formulations used to depict
trafficking either lay emphasis on the buying and selling of people or they relate closely to
smuggling. As such these words, and the term ‘trafficking', may not sufficiently incorporate
the practical aspect, that is, exploitation.

Therefore, the most widely accepted definition of ‘trafficking in persons' which entails the
aspect of exploitation is furnished by the “Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish
Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplemented the United Nations
Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (2000)”. Thus, human trafficking
implies, “…the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by
means of a threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of
deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving
of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another
person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the
exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour
or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”
According to the U.S. Department of State (TIP Report 2005, p. 12), many countries
misunderstand this definition by overlapping in their own legislations internal trafficking and
thus, fail to differentiate trafficking from smuggling of migrants.

This definition essentially addresses that this activity can be broken into three distinctive
parts, namely; criminal acts, means and purposes for commission of the acts. (United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC] p. 2) As such, Human Trafficking is a process
constituting of three elements namely an action by the trafficker, the means and the purpose
of exploitation. An action refers to what is done, for example, recruiting, transporting,
transferring, harbouring or receipt of persons. The means refers to how is human trafficking
carried out and includes abuse of power or vulnerability, usage of fraud, force, threat or
kidnapping, or benefits or payments to the person controlling the victim. Finally, as far as the
purpose is concerned; that is why it is done, includes acts such as forced labour, exploiting
the prostitution of person, sexual exploitation, slavery or other similar practices and the
organs removal or other types of exploitation. It is to be noted that at least one constituent of
each of these groups as described above, is required before the definition provided by the
protocol applies. In case of trafficking involving children below 18, only the action and the
purpose of exploitation will be required. Another important aspect is that there is no need for
a person to be physically transported from one place to another, for the crime to be covered
by the definition.

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Factors Causing Human Trafficking

Shelley in 2003 said that “the human trafficking crisis has been exacerbated by factors
including a global economy, increased travel, high demand for low cost labor, inadequacy of
law enforcement and legislation, and the potential criminalization of trafficking victims,
particularly for immigration related offenses”. It is clear that the root causes of trafficking are
diverse, complex and often interrelated. Most of the time, they are different for each country
and this section shall deal with the major root causes of trafficking in persons.

Demand & Supply Forces

Demand is a crucial cause of human trafficking because people get involved in this trade to
fulfill the avid demand for women and girls by the employers of illegal labour and the buyers
of sexual services extorted from victims. (Bertone, 2000, P. 8) The traffickers take advantage
of demand for cheap and vulnerable workers as well as the sex tourism promotion in
countries who perceive migrants as highly profitable and low risk commodities. In the
absence of effective and competent legislations and the abundant supply of migrant workers,
unfree labour is exploited scrupulously. In this way, in their search for a better life, they are
enslaved and exploited.

Globalisation & Poverty

Over the last decades, there has been a notable increase in the number of trafficked victims
along with globalization. Usually globalization is considered as being a major driving force
that has enabled criminals while impoverished agencies set up for fighting them (Naïm,
2006). The gap between the rich and the poor has been extremely widened with globalization.
(Pope Jean Paul, 2004) The world's 225 richest people together possess wealth of more than
$1 trillion which equates to the annual income of 47 % of the world poorest population,
which amounts to around 2.5 billion people. This vulnerable group of people are deceived
and sold for sexual slavery or involuntary servitude which is the result of increased
international mobility and globalization. The demand for trafficked labour has also increased
with globalization since employers require cheap and low skilled workers who are attracted
to developed countries because of high unemployment in their counties. Most of the time,
women and girls suffer the most from such inequalities and thus prefer to go in an unknown
country in search of work so as to provide subsistence means for their family. Unfortunately,
they are trapped and end up as victims in the hands of the traffickers.

Lack Of Legal Migration Opportunities

Most of the people who are exploited become victims of trafficking owing to their aspiration
to migrate abroad but cannot do so legally due to the existence of strict rules. Therefore, they
look for other alternatives for which they have to seek help from traffickers and smugglers
who in turn then seize the papers of these people and exploit them in various ways. The
victims cannot even report such crimes because of their fear of being arrested by the police or
immigration officers. As a consequence, they are bound to keep silent and suffer the misery
inflicted on them.

Other Offences Related To Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking refers to an entire process rather than simply encompassing just one
offence. This process starts with either the recruitment or abduction of a person and prolongs
with the transport and entry of the latter to another location. Later, in the exploitation process,
the victim is exploited in various ways. During the entire process, traffickers normally
commit different forms of offences. Trafficking activities and other criminal offences are
interrelated, for instance smuggling of drugs or weapons. There are other offences that are
committed in prolongation or protection of the trafficking operation, for example, money-
laundering and tax evasion. To exemplify, Re U.S. v. KilSooLee , whereby the offender was
sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment for violation of human rights, money laundering and
extortion. To understand the process of trafficking, UNDOC has provided for a simple table
as illustrated in the Appendix.

Trafficking in person is often only one of the offences perpetuated against trafficked persons,
since other crimes may be committed to control victims, protect trafficking operations and
raise profits. (UNDOC, 107) The victims are often threatened, physically and sexually ill-
treated and their passports and other documents are confiscated. They may be forced to toil
without salary, frequently in dangerous and illegal activities, like prostitution, pornography
and trafficking of drugs. Apart from the direct victims, ex-victims helping the authorities may
also become preys of threats and retaliatory violence while public officials may be corrupted,
threatened or both.

These acts total to criminal offences in most countries and could be cited to tackle certain
elements of the different crimes involved in trafficking in persons. This could be useful in
nations where a specific criminal offence of trafficking is not yet present, or where penalties
for trafficking are not sufficient to criminalise this crime. For example, Angola may put on
trial traffickers through provisions of its Constitution and statutory laws criminalising forced
and bonded labour while Uruguay rely upon commercial laws relating to fraud, sexual
exploitation, or slavery for adult trafficking in persons (United States Department of State
Trafficking in Persons, [USDSTP] 2007).

There can also be instances whereby evidences may be adequate for prosecution of related
offences but inadequate in prosecuting trafficking in person. For instance, in Bokhobokhoand
Jonathan v. The Republic , six women were killed and their private parts, breasts, intestines
and eyes were trafficked. However, the court turned on murder charges rather than trafficking
in organs. Prosecuting the accused for supplementary or overlapping crimes may also be
valuable in indicating the gravity of a specific trafficking manoeuvre. For example, in some
situations, evidence concerning some aspects of the trafficking activity might only be totally
exposed by imposing extra charges.

Combating Of Trafficking In Persons Act: An Overview

Inadequate legislation is often a major obstacle in fighting against human trafficking. An

appropriate legal framework, which is consistent with international conventions and
standards, has a vital role in preventing trafficking and other related exploitations (UN,
2002). The Palermo Protocol also emphasizes that the countries must criminalise human
trafficking by establishing specific provisions for it rather than offences that underlies it.
Providentially, Mauritius has recently promulgated the “Combating of Trafficking in Persons
Act” with the assistance of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Thus,
this section will mainly provide a synopsis of its salient provisions.

The legislation incorporates a definition of Trafficking similar to that of the Palermo Protocol
as well as some forms of this crime namely slavery, forced labour, sex and organ trafficking.
This enactment, being a supplement to the provisions of the Child Protection Act, offers
temporary accommodation, counselling and rehabilitation as well as education and training
for the reintegration of the victims through drop-in centres. (News On Sunday, 2009)

A victim of trafficking although being a non-citizen of Mauritius may stay for a

nonrenewable period of not more than 42 days. A temporary visitor's permit may be issued to
the victim if the latter is present in Mauritius and has agreed to cooperate with the authorities
with regards to a trafficking case. There may be extension of the permit on humanitarian
grounds.

In case of risk of being killed or trafficked again, a non-citizen will not be repatriated to his
country of origin or where he has been trafficked from, except if his safety has been provided
for. Repatriation arrangements will be made of a victim who is citizen or permanent resident
of Mauritius. The minor victims will be accompanied back to the country by an adult at the
disbursement of the Mauritian government. On his arrival in Mauritius, the child will be
entrusted to the ‘Child Development Unit' while the adult to the ‘Centre for Victims of
Trafficking'.

If it has been proved that the accused has indulged in trafficking of persons or allows a person
to be trafficked shall be deemed to have committed an offence whether or not the victim has
given consent earlier. Even a person who deliberately, either, rents a room or building or
allows its usage for harbouring a victim of trafficking or makes or causes advertisement,
publication broadcast or distribution of information to lure to trafficking by any means, even
through the Internet. The ‘Internet Service Provider', who does not report immediately to the
Police about any side of his server which holds information that fronts to trafficking, will be
committing an offence. The same case applies for a person who intentionally benefits from
the services of the victim or uses or enables another person to make such use. All the above
offences, which fall under Section 11 of the Act, will be liable to punishment by
imprisonment for a term not more than 15 years. On the other hand, Section 12 advocates that
where a person possesses, destroys, seizes, hides or alters the papers and identification
documents of a victim of trafficking, he shall be liable to 5 years penal servitude and a fine
not exceeding Rs 100,000.

In certain circumstances, Courts have ‘extra territorial jurisdiction' to hear a matter of

trafficking, whereby the offender is a citizen or resident of Mauritius or has been arrested in
its territory or territorial waters, although the offence has taken place outside the territories of
Mauritius and regardless of whether the crime constitutes an offence in the state where it has
been committed. The court may make an order for the payment of appropriate compensation,
not exceeding Rs 500,000 by the offender to the victim and the State in compensation for
expenses incurred in relation to the repatriation, transportation, accommodation and care of
the victim.

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Human trafficking is the fastest increasing criminal industry in today’s world, coming in second after
illegal drug-trade. This type of slaver has been traced back to the ancient Mesopotamian and
Mediterranean civilization and has continued to grow. What is human trafficking? Commonly
referred to as "modern-day slavery" is the illegal trade of human beings for forced labor or for
exploitation. Exploitation referring to the using others for prostitution or other forms of sexual
exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery, or the removal of organs. Woman and young children
living in poverty are the ones who usually fall in the trap of the traffickers. Due to poverty many
woman are not educated and are no employed leaving them with no choice but to sell their bodies
to provide for their families. An approximate of 17,500 foreigners are trafficked each year in the
United States alone, the number of United States citizens trafficked within the United States are even
higher. Human trafficking is a near-guaranteed death due HIV and AIDS woman are infected with.
Government around the world are just beginning to address this problem and have realized just how
strong this type of slavery has become.
Poverty is the leading cause in human trafficking. It has been documented that poverty leads to a
lack of education leading to no employment and that leading to sex trafficking By fighting poverty
many believe that there will be an end to sex trafficking too. Woman living in poverty countries will
not be looking into sex driven businesses for employment. "Trafficking is inextricably linked to
poverty. Wherever privation and economic hardship prevail, there will be those destitute and
desperate enough to enter into the fraudulent employment schemes that are the most common
intake systems in the world of trafficking." (The United States Agency for International Development)
In Kenya, It has been reported that parents have sent their daughters into town for prostitution
because they were desperate for money to feed their families. More then 1,500 girls under the age
of 18 and as young as 12 in Kenya have been reported to be working prostitution in bars.
It is acknowledged that woman and girls who are trafficked to commercial sex are the ones who will
most likely be infected with HIV/AIDS. The threat of the disease among the prostituted woman has
not made sex trafficking and prostitution less likely to occur, but has increased the numbers of
younger girls being traded. Clients sense that these younger girls are "virgins" and are uninfected by
the virus, making them more popular. BBC News reported South America and India are leading with
the highest numbers of infected people with HIV/AIDS in the world. South Africa being the first,
having 5.1 million living with the disease and India being second by having a rapid increase in
numbers of infected woman due to sex trafficking. BBC News reported: "In big red light districts, such
as Sonagachi in Calcutta, where at least 10,000 prostitutes make a living, some men continue to insist
on sex without condoms.", "The trafficked girls are forced to oblige. Many come from rural villages
and do not know what Aids is before they are sold to pimps.", "And as they are moved around the
country they can unwittingly spread the disease."
The United States government is committed to fight against human trafficking at home and abroad.
The Trafficking victims Protection Act was signed in the year 2000. Stated on humantrafficking.org
this Act: "enhances pre-existing criminal penalties, affords new protections to trafficking victims and
makes available certain benefits and serves to victims of severe forms of trafficking.It also establishes
a Cabinet-level federal interagency task force and establishes a federal program to provide services to
trafficking victims." The U.S is also helping countries abroad by providing many anti-trafficking and
development programs. Millions of dollars were provided to organizations all over the world to
provide programs so human trafficking can be fought. The programs contribute on informing people
the dangers of trafficking and strengthening the numbers of non-government organizations. Also
stated on www.humantrafficking.org that: "The U.S. has assisted countries to enact anti-trafficking
legislation, trained law enforcement officials, prosecutors, border guards and judicial officers on
detecting, investigating, and prosecuting traffickers, and protecting victims and provided start-up
equipment for new anti-trafficking police units." The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization
Act came out in 2003, dedicated to provide aid to approximately 20,000 victims that are trafficked
into the U.S each year. President Bush had signed into law in early January the Trafficking Victims
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. The United Stated had started monitoring people who were
being trafficked in 1994, and is continuing to do so until human trafficking is prosecuted.
All in all, human trafficking is a serious crime that not many people are informed about. Young
woman and children are forced into this sickening business everyday. Woman and children living in
poverty do not know the meaning of human trafficking due to the lack of education. The highest
percentage with people carrying the HIV/AIDS virus is for woman on this planet, many believing part
of the percentage is because of human trafficking. Not many woman and children know the risks
they are taking when they have no choice but to sell their bodies. Government all over the world
should be providing information on human trafficking because no nation is immune from this crime

Short Essay on Human Trafficking

By Rehaan Bansal

Human trafficking is just another name for modern-day slavery, wherein the victims involved
are forced, coerced and deceived into labour and sexual exploitation.

The figures are scary. Almost 6, 00,000 to 8, 00,000 women and children are annually
trafficked across national borders. This does not account for the numbers that are trafficked
within their own countries.

Most human trafficking victims are actually duped into the trade by the false promises made
regarding job opportunities. Many women from third world countries are lured into this trade
with the bait of false marriages. Many of the victims are forced either directly with violence
or indirectly with psychological blackmail into the trade.
Once they enter the countries of trade their passports are confiscated and with no money, no
shelter, and no one to turn to they are left at the mercy of those who trade in human flesh.

Human trafficking is a multi-faceted threat. It robs people of their right of freedom. It is

inhuman .The victims end devastated, demoralized and defeated. Those that suffer physical
and emotional abuse and rape may never be able to live normal lives again. Those that are
threatened live in constant fear and end being psychologically compromised.

The impact of human trafficking is chilling; and although, the brunt of it is faced by the
victims, the nation suffers as a whole. Safety and security, the privileges of living in a free
country are compromised.

India shows alarming rates of human trafficking. With an estimated 400 million children
between 0 and 18 years, the country’s per capita income remaining low and 26 percent of the
population living below the poverty line.

India has become a source, destination and transit country for men, woman, and children
trafficked for forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation. India has become a transit
hub for human trafficking with estimated millions, victim to human trafficking.

Trafficking in India is often disguised as migration, commercial sex or disgustingly even

marriage. It is estimated that ninety percent of the India’s sex trafficking is internal. Women
and girls are trafficked internally for commercial sex.

Children are subject to involuntary servitude as factory workers, domestic servants, beggars,
agricultural workers and many times they are also sexually abused by their owners. No crime
can be worse than this.

The child is mentally handicapped for the rest of his or her life. Hand embroidery factories
mostly employ boys below the age of twelve.

The most beautiful carpets and hand embroidered designer gowns are often works of art
created by victims of human trafficking. Girls are also trafficked from the neighboring
countries like Bangladesh, and Nepal into India.

Many help lines like Child line have been set up to reach out especially to the street children,
child labourers, and abused children.

Centres like Aakanksha help in rehabilitating the victims. Don Bosco National Forum has
launched a website which is closely monitored by child welfare organizations in all cities of
the country and a search for the child is started immediately after a complaint is registered.

The governments of some cities in India like Maharashstra have banned dance bars. However
so much more needs to be done, yet. The problems must be tackled at grass roots. Also
change must start with the people for the people.

The people must become the eyes and the arms of the government and make this crusade
their own cause. Then and only then will we see an end to human trafficking.