Prevention of Trafficking and Exploitation of Refugees; with special emphasis on the vulnerable population.

The definition of human trafficking consists of three core elements The act of trafficking, which means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons.

Basic literature and meaning of trafficking in all its aspects:

The definition of human trafficking consists of three core elements The act of trafficking, which means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons. The means of trafficking include threat of or use of force, deception, coercion, abuse of power or position of vulnerability. The purpose of trafficking is always exploitation. Human trafficking is a global crime that trades in people and exploits them for profit. People of all genders, ages and backgrounds can become victims of this crime in every region of the world. Traffickers use violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick, coerce and deceive their victims. The organised networks or individuals behind this lucrative crime take advantage of people who are vulnerable, desperate or simply seeking a better life. Globally, one in every three victims detected is a child. Girls are mainly trafficked for sexual exploitation, while boys are used for forced labour.

According to UNODC’s 2022 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, compiled using official figures from over 141 countries, female victims continue to be the primary targets. The report shows that in 2020, 42 per cent of detected victims were women and 18 per cent were girls. For male victims, the Report shows that 23 per cent of detected victims were men and 17 per cent were boys. The report shows that the share of children among detected trafficking victims has tripled while the share of boys has increased five times over the past 15 years.

Traffickers target people who are marginalised or in difficult circumstances. Undocumented migrants and people who are in desperate need of employment are vulnerable, particularly to trafficking for forced labour. Criminals trafficking children target victims from extremely poor households, dysfunctional families or those who are abandoned and have no parental care.

UNODC’s 2022 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons shows that 58 per cent of people convicted of human trafficking offences in 2020 were male. However, the participation of women is higher compared with other crimes. Eastern Europe and Central Asia continue to convict far more females than males, with 85 per cent of convictions involving women in Central Asia in 2020. While many traffickers have criminal backgrounds and use trafficking as a direct source of income, there are also business owners, intimate partners and other family members involved in human trafficking.

Routes:

Nearly 80 per cent of international human trafficking journeys cross through official border control points, such as airports and land border control points. Victims of labour exploitation are more likely to be trafficked through official border control points, while victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation account for more cases crossing borders via locations that don’t have official border control points. This includes irregular routes, such as those across the sea or cross-country. Children are also more likely than adults to be trafficked via routes that don’t have official border control points. For instance, in Nigeria and neighbouring countries, slave markets are a major source of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The country is a centre for sex trafficking made possible by organised crime.