Shedding Light on the Hidden World of Sex Trafficking in the Southeast Asian Region

"Unveiling the Harrowing Reality and Inspiring Global Action against Sex Trafficking"

Introduction to sex trafficking:

Sex trafficking is a severe form of human trafficking that amounts to modern-day slavery. It poses a significant public health concern, adversely impacting the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. This exploitation occurs when a trafficker uses force, deception, or coercion to compel someone into engaging in commercial sex or labour. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines sex trafficking as activities involving recruitment, transportation, harbouring, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of individuals for the purpose of commercial sex acts. It involves the use of force, deception, or coercion to involve adults in such acts.

However, any involvement of a minor in commercial sexual activity, even without force, deception, or coercion, is classified as trafficking. By recognizing the common risk factors and protective measures against violence, we can work towards preventing the occurrence of trafficking in the first place. This form of violence exploits individuals of all genders and ages, globally. Human trafficking victimization and perpetration share similar risks and consequences as other forms of abuse, such as child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and youth violence.

Perpetrators of human trafficking often target those who are economically disadvantaged, vulnerable, living in unsafe conditions, or seeking a better life. Victims can come from diverse backgrounds and find themselves trapped in various locations and situations. While a significant number of victims are women and girls, men and boys are also affected. Victims encompass all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, citizenship statuses, and income levels. Victims are ensnared and controlled through a range of methods, including physical assault, threats, false promises, perceived protection, isolation, shame, and debt. It is important to note that physical transportation between locations is not always necessary for victimization to occur.

However, further research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies aimed at reducing the risk factors associated with human trafficking. By focusing on prevention, we can intervene before trafficking takes place. Strategies grounded in the best available evidence have proven effective in preventing various forms of violence, including sex trafficking. States and communities can take proactive steps by implementing and assessing initiatives that promote healthy relationship behaviours, create safe environments in homes and neighbourhoods, identify and address vulnerabilities during healthcare visits, reduce the demand for commercial sex, and eliminate the financial gains from trafficking-related transactions.

Introduction to human trafficking:

We are aware that sex trafficking is a narrower aspect of human trafficking at large. Hence, in order to understand and combat sex trafficking trends, we need to address the issue of human trafficking as a whole, so that we can well address and understand the connection and linkage of both these aspects. Sex trafficking is rooted in Human Trafficking, and a certain portion of illegally trafficked victims often end up in prostitution or are used up as sex slaves and are thrown into the sex market. Therefore, I believe, that to address such an issue, there needs to be a proper understanding of human trafficking, its routes, trends and ways by which people are trafficked. Therefore, in this section, we shall be focusing on Human Trafficking in all its aspects, in order to understand the field of study we are dealing with.

Human trafficking in South East Asian Region:

Human trafficking is a significant social problem in the South Asian region. While efforts have been made to address this issue, the lack of information and statistics regarding the number of victims and trafficking patterns makes it more challenging to combat. According to a study published in the International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics in 2006, approximately 1 to 2 million individuals, including women, men, and children, are trafficked globally each year. Alarmingly, around 225,000 of these victims come from the SAARC region. In South Asia, there is a troubling trend of increasingly young girls being trafficked into the sex trade. The majority of trafficking in India, whether within the country or across borders, is for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Shockingly, more than 60% of those trafficked for sex work are girls between the ages of 12 and 16 (UNDP, 2005). In some Indian cities, girls as young as eight or nine are being sold through auctions.

It is estimated that there are around 2 million prostitutes in India, and alarmingly, 60% of women in prostitution in Mumbai are HIV positive (Daily Times Monitor, 2007).

One of the misconceptions driving the demand for young girls in South Asia is the belief that having sex with a virgin can cure sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. In fact, women in South Asia now account for up to 35% of new HIV infections (UNAIDS, 2000). Several socio-cultural and macroeconomic factors contribute to women's vulnerability to HIV, including poverty, migration, urbanization, gender inequalities, lack of autonomy, abuse, limited access to healthcare services, violence, and ethnicity.

Human trafficking has significant social, economic, and health impacts, leading to the deprivation of various assets and basic rights, loss of livelihoods, and increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Both demand and supply factors contribute to human trafficking. On the demand side, factors like poverty, social and cultural practices including gender discrimination, and the impact of globalization on traditional livelihoods play a role.

The supply side involves the demand for cheap labour and an increase in migrant workers. One major challenge is the lack of effective implementation of anti-trafficking laws. Even when laws are in place, the punishments often fall short, and there is a need for more awareness programs targeting the general public and stakeholders. SAARC governments should allocate resources for training, technical assistance, and audits to ensure the complete eradication of trafficking from their supply chains.

South Asia has demonstrated that with modest funding and focused advocacy, emphasizing law enforcement can bring about significant improvements in the response of governance structures to combat human trafficking.

By: Aryaneel Shivam