Modern Slavery FAQ

Trafficking involves the illegal trade and exploitation of individuals through various forms. Here are the main types:

1. Child Trafficking: Involves the recruitment and exploitation of children for labor, sexual activities, or other purposes.

2. Sex Trafficking: Victims are coerced into commercial sex acts (prostitution) through force or deception.

3. Forced Labor: Individuals are made to work under threat or coercion, often in hazardous conditions.

4. Debt Bondage: Workers are trapped in a cycle of debt and forced to work to repay the debt.

5. Domestic Servitude: Victims are forced to work in private homes, often facing isolation and abuse.

6. Organ Trafficking: The illegal trade of organs, where victims are exploited for their body parts.

Example: A young man is promised a job in a foreign country. Upon arrival, his passport is confiscated, and he is forced to work in a factory under hazardous conditions with no pay. He is threatened with violence if he tries to leave, illustrating the harsh reality of forced labor and debt bondage. 

Key international instruments include:

1. UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Protocol):

   • This protocol focuses on preventing trafficking, protecting victims, and promoting cooperation among countries to combat trafficking.

2. Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings:

   • Aims to prevent trafficking, protect victims' rights, and prosecute traffickers.

3. EU Anti-Trafficking Directive:

   • Establishes minimum standards to combat human trafficking across EU member states, focusing on prevention, prosecution, and victim protection.

Example: Maria, a young woman from Eastern Europe, was lured by a false job offer and ended up in a foreign country, forced into domestic servitude. Thanks to the Palermo Protocol, the country she was taken to had laws in place to protect her and punish the traffickers. Maria was rescued, received victim support services, and the traffickers were prosecuted.

Trafficking, or more specifically human trafficking, is the illegal trade of humans for exploitation through force, fraud, or coercion. This includes recruiting, transporting, harboring, and receiving individuals to exploit them in various ways such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, or domestic servitude.

Example: A girl from a rural area is promised a job in the city but ends up being forced into domestic servitude. Her documents are confiscated, and she cannot leave. She works excessive hours, receives low wages, and faces threats of violence if she tries to escape.

Forced labor can occur in various industries:

1. Agriculture and Fishing: Workers may face long hours, low or no wages, and hazardous work conditions.

2. Manufacturing and Textiles: Factories often exploit workers with excessive working hours and debt bondage.

3. Construction and Mining: Laborers may endure physical abuse, poor living conditions, and restricted freedom of movement.

4. Domestic Work and Hospitality: Workers are often subjected to psychological manipulation and inability to leave employment.

It should be further borne in mind how particular activities and commodities have a long association with slavery. Where slavery and forced labor have been found in association with these activities and commodities in the past, they are likely to be found in association with them again. 

Example: Raj, from a rural village, was recruited for a construction job in the city. Upon arrival, his documents were confiscated, and he was forced to work in dangerous conditions with no pay. This story illustrates forced labor in the construction industry and the exploitation workers face.

Trafficking involves the illegal trade and exploitation of individuals through various forms. Here are the main types:

1. Child Trafficking: Involves the recruitment and exploitation of children for labor, sexual activities, or other purposes.

2. Sex Trafficking: Victims are coerced into commercial sex acts (prostitution) through force or deception.

3. Forced Labor: Individuals are made to work under threat or coercion, often in hazardous conditions.

4. Debt Bondage: Workers are trapped in a cycle of debt and forced to work to repay the debt.

5. Domestic Servitude: Victims are forced to work in private homes, often facing isolation and abuse.

6. Organ Trafficking: The illegal trade of organs, where victims are exploited for their body parts.

Example: A young man is promised a job in a foreign country. Upon arrival, his passport is confiscated, and he is forced to work in a factory under hazardous conditions with no pay. He is threatened with violence if he tries to leave, illustrating the harsh reality of forced labor and debt bondage. 

Corruption enables trafficking by:

1. Allowing Criminals to Operate with Impunity: Corrupt officials may turn a blind eye to trafficking operations.

2. Facilitating Document Fraud: Traffickers obtain false documents to transport victims across borders.

3. Compromising Border Controls: Corrupt border officials allow traffickers to move victims freely.

4. Hindering Investigations and Prosecutions: Bribed law enforcement can obstruct justice and protect traffickers.

Example: In a small town, a corrupt police officer was paid by traffickers to overlook their activities. This allowed the traffickers to exploit migrants for labor exploitation without fear of prosecution. The officer’s actions hindered the investigations and prolonged the victims’ suffering.

Modern slavery affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide. This includes forced labor, forced marriage, and human trafficking. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, and migrants are disproportionately affected.

Example: A young woman is promised a job in a foreign city but ends up in domestic servitude. She works long hours with no pay, her documents are confiscated, and she faces threats of violence if she tries to leave.

Child trafficking has unique aspects:

1. No Force or Coercion Required: Simply involving a child in exploitation constitutes trafficking.

2. Exploitation through Child Labor or Child Marriage: Children are used in labor-intensive jobs or forced into marriage.

3. Use in Armed Conflicts: Child soldiers are recruited for combat roles in conflict zones.

Example: A 12-year-old boy, Jamal, was kidnapped and forced to become a child soldier in a rebel group. Unlike adults, children like Jamal do not need to be coerced or deceived to be considered trafficked victims, highlighting the severe nature of child trafficking.

Common victims of trafficking include women, children, migrants, refugees, and ethnic minorities. These groups are often targeted due to their vulnerability and lack of protection, making them susceptible to various forms of exploitation such as child trafficking, sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude.

Example: A young refugee girl, fleeing armed conflict, is approached by traffickers promising safety and employment. She is taken to another country, her documents are confiscated, and she is forced into sex trafficking. She works in deplorable conditions with no wages and is threatened with violence if she tries to escape. This story highlights how vulnerable individuals, like refugees, can become victims of human trafficking due to their desperation and lack of resources.

Challenges include:

1. Victims May Not Self-identify: Fear of traffickers or shame can prevent victims from seeking help.

2. Language Barriers and Cultural Differences: These barriers hinder communication and identification.

3. Lack of Awareness Among First Responders: Inadequate training can result in missed signs of trafficking.

4. Victims' Distrust of Authorities: Previous negative experiences may make victims wary of seeking help.

Example: Ana, a refugee, was trafficked for domestic servitude. Her fear of deportation and distrust of authorities kept her from revealing her situation. It was only through the intervention of an NGO that Ana was identified and rescued.

Traffickers recruit victims often through subtle means. They may use various deceptive and coercive methods. They often exploit vulnerabilities such as poverty, lack of education, and social isolation. Common tactics include false promises of employment, education, or a better life.

Example: A young woman from a rural area is approached by a trafficker promising a well-paying job in the city. She accepts the offer, but upon arrival, her documents are confiscated, and she is forced into domestic servitude. She works excessive hours in hazardous conditions with no pay and faces threats of violence if she tries to leave. This story illustrates how traffickers use deception and coercion to exploit vulnerable individuals.

Technically this might be called human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal. There is an illegal trade in organs that doesn't necessarily require human trafficking. This trade is generally termed organ trafficking. In this case, it is implicit that human trafficking is involved.

Human Trafficking for the purpose of organ removal involves:

1. Coercion or Deception: Victims are coerced or deceived into giving up their organs. Remember deception plays an important part in human trafficking and no less so than in how victims are duped into situations where organs can be removed.

2. Illegal Removal and Sale of Organs: Organs, often kidneys, are removed and sold illegally.

3. Exploitation of Poverty and Medical Desperation: Vulnerable individuals are targeted due to their desperate circumstances.

4. Complex International Networks: Criminals and unethical medical professionals collaborate to facilitate the trade.

Example: John, from a low-income community, was promised a significant amount of money for his kidney. After the surgery, he was left without proper medical care and received no payment. This story highlights the exploitation and deception involved in organ trafficking.

No, human trafficking is not only for sexual exploitation. It also includes forced labor, debt bondage, domestic servitude, forced marriage, child soldiery, trafficking for the purpose of removal of organs, and other forms of exploitation.

Example: A young man from a rural village in the middle east is promised a well-paying construction job in a big city in an adjoining country. Upon arrival, he is told by his employer he will need to take a blood test at the local hospital. Doctors there discover he has been scheduled for surgery to donate a kidney and it is clear he knows nothing about this. This is an example of attempted trafficking for the purpose of organ removal, a form of human trafficking distinct from sexual exploitation.

Links include:

1. Funding: Terrorist groups use human trafficking to finance their activities.

2. Exploitation for Terrorist Activities: Victims are exploited for labor, combat, or other activities.

3. Use of Similar Routes and Networks: Both trafficking and terrorism utilize clandestine routes and networks.

4. Exploitation of Weak Governance and Conflict Zones: These conditions create opportunities for both traffickers and terrorists.

Example: A terrorist group in a conflict zone used child soldiers recruited through human trafficking to fight in their ranks. This not only funded their operations but also exploited the vulnerability of children in the area.

Some victims do escape. It can be a daunting journey however. Fear plays a big role and humiliation does too. Victims are treated like objects and deliberately deprived of their humanity. In such situations it is difficult for victims of modern slavery to consider escape.

Many victims of course do not escape. Traffickers use a  combination of methods to control their victims. These methods include coercion, deception, psychological manipulation, threats of violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, dispensing alcohol & narcotics, restricted freedom of movement, isolation, confiscation of identity documents, debt bondage, and fear of the trafficker.

Example: A young woman, a migrant, is recruited for domestic servitude. Upon arrival, her passport is confiscated (confiscation of identity documents), she is isolated (isolation) from the outside world, and constantly threatened with violence (threats of violence) against her family back home if she tries to leave. She is also told she owes a large debt (debt bondage) for her transportation (transportation) to the country. This combination of factors makes escape seem impossible.

Gender-based violence intersects with trafficking through:

1. Increased Vulnerability of Women and Girls: Women and girls are more susceptible to exploitation.

2. Use of Sexual Violence as Control: Traffickers use sexual violence to exert control over victims.

3. Trafficking for Forced Marriage: Girls and women are trafficked for the purpose of forced marriage.

4. Exploitation of LGBTQ+ Individuals: Discrimination increases their vulnerability to trafficking.

Example: Sarah was trafficked into sex trafficking due to her gender. She faced severe sexual violence and psychological manipulation to keep her compliant. Her story underscores the intersection between gender-based violence and human trafficking.

If you suspect human trafficking, take the following steps:

1. Observe and Document: Note any signs of abuse, coercion, or exploitation, such as restricted freedom of movement, excessive working hours, or poor living conditions. Records dates, times and locations, as well as the particulars of persons observed.

2. Do Not Confront: Avoid confronting the suspected trafficker or victim as this could put you and the victim at risk.

3. Report to Authorities: Contact local law enforcement or specialized hotlines. In Europe and parts of Asia, dial 112; in the US, dial 911. Provide as much detail as possible, including the location, description of individuals involved, and any observed behaviors.

Example: Jane noticed how a neighbor now had several children working in their home, exhibiting signs of domestic servitude. These children were often around her neighbor's home during school hours. Instead of confronting the neighbor, Jane documented her observations and reported them to a local anti-trafficking hotline. Authorities investigated and confirmed the children were victims of child trafficking and domestic servitude, leading to their rescue and the neighbor's arrest.

NGOs contribute by:

1. Providing Direct Services to Victims: NGOs offer shelter, medical care, and psychological support.

2. Raising Public Awareness: Campaigns educate the public about the dangers and signs of trafficking.

3. Advocating for Stronger Laws and Policies: NGOs lobby for anti-slavery legislation and effective policies.

4. Conducting Research and Data Collection: They gather data to inform better practices and strategies.

Example: An NGO helped rescue and rehabilitate Mary, a victim of sexual exploitation. They provided her with victim support services, legal assistance, and facilitated her reintegration into society.

Human trafficking is driven by various "push" factors that create and exploit vulnerabilities in individuals. Here are the main causes:

1. Poverty: Economic hardship makes individuals susceptible to exploitation through forced labor, debt bondage, and domestic servitude.

2. Lack of Education: Limited access to education can lead to vulnerability, making children and young adults targets for recruitment into child trafficking and criminal exploitation.

3. Social Instability: Conflict, war, lawlessness, and economic migration can displace people, making refugees and migrants easy targets for traffickers. 

4. Corruption and Weak Law Enforcement: Corruption and inadequate law enforcement can enable traffickers to operate with impunity, making victim identification and prosecution difficult.

5. Discrimination: Ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups often face discrimination that increases their vulnerability to exploitation.

6. Personal Crises: Bereavement of a spouse or perhaps the loss of both parents can cause major upheaval. So too can domestic abuse. 

Compounding the above, some talk of a glorification of the West, where those who live in places of abject poverty have an idealized perspective of life in the West. This leads many to assess their situation and embark on a new life abroad, a venture which can unwittingly lead them into danger. 

Human trafficking is also driven by various "pull" factors that create a market for victims. Consumer demand is a key element in human trafficking and modern slavery. Here are some examples:

1. Demand for Cheap Labor: Industries seeking low-cost labor are major contributors to forced labor and labor exploitation. Companies may turn a blind eye to the conditions under which their products are made, leading to the exploitation of migrants and ethnic minorities.

2. Demand for Sexual Services: The sex industry’s demand fuels sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. This demand perpetuates the cycle of coercion and deception used to recruit victims.

3. Demand for Organs: The black market for organs creates a demand for organ trafficking. Vulnerable individuals are often targeted and exploited for their organs, which are sold illegally.

4. Demand for Criminal Activities: Some criminal enterprises exploit trafficked individuals for activities such as forced begging, forced criminality, and child soldiers.

5. Demand for Domestic Services: There is a significant demand for cheap domestic labor, leading to domestic servitude. Victims are often hidden in private homes, making detection difficult.

Example: A young boy from a conflict zone is promised safety and education by a trafficker. Upon arrival, his documents are confiscated, and he is forced into labor in a factory under hazardous conditions. The factory's demand for cheap labor drives this exploitation. This scenario illustrates how poverty, social instability, deception, and the demand for cheap labor can lead to human trafficking and forced labor. 

Recent trends include:

1. Increased Use of Online Platforms: Traffickers recruit victims through social media and online job portals.

2. Exploitation of the Gig Economy: Victims are exploited in informal labor markets.

3. Trafficking in Conflict Zones and Natural Disasters: Increased vulnerability in these areas leads to higher trafficking rates.

4. Rise in Labor Trafficking in Certain Industries: Global supply chain disruptions have led to increased labor trafficking.

Example: During a natural disaster, traffickers lured displaced individuals with false job offers through social media. They were then forced into labor exploitation in makeshift factories. This example shows how modern trends in human trafficking adapt to global conditions.

Technological advancements occupy a complex position in human trafficking and modern slavery. Technology can facilitate and create new demand for modern slavery in several ways:

• Increased Efficiency and Lower Costs: Technological innovations can make production processes more efficient and reduce costs, leading to increased demand for goods and services. This surge in demand can, in turn, drive the demand for cheap labor, creating opportunities for exploitation. For example, the invention of the cotton gin made cotton production much more efficient, leading to lower prices and increased demand for cotton, which in turn led to an increased demand for slaves to pick the cotton.

• Expansion of Industries: Technology can lead to the expansion of existing industries or the creation of new ones, sometimes requiring large workforces. The fishing industry, for example, has been transformed by technological advancements like radio communication, satellite navigation systems, diesel engines, and refrigeration. These advancements allow fishing boats to stay at sea for longer periods, increasing the demand for labor and creating opportunities for exploitation, such as forced labor on fishing vessels.

• Creation of New Products and Markets: Technological advancements can lead to the creation of new products and markets, which can also drive demand for labor, potentially leading to exploitation. For example, the demand for prawns has fueled a demand for workers in the prawn farming industry, which has been linked to forced labor. Medical developments have enabled organs to be transplanted, creating a demand for organs.

• Accessibility and Affordability of Weapons: Advancements in weapon technology, such as the development of the AK-47, have made weapons more accessible and affordable, even to groups like child soldiers. The lightweight and ease of use of the AK-47 has contributed to the use of child soldiers in armed conflicts.

• Persistence of Labor-Intensive Activities: Some activities, such as begging, remain largely unaffected by technological advancements and continue to rely on human labor, making them susceptible to exploitation.
  
  

It's crucial to recognize that technology's relationship with slavery is complex. While some advancements may inadvertently facilitate exploitation, others can play a role in combating it, such as the use of robot jockeys in camel racing to replace child jockeys. We begin to see through such insights that technology has a dual relationship with human trafficking and modern slavery. Here are some further key points:

1. Recruitment and Exploitation:

   • Traffickers use social media, online job portals, and dating apps to target vulnerable individuals with false promises.

   • Social media platforms are often used for recruitment.

   • Social media platforms are used to highlight the plight of trafficking's victims and survivors.

2. Control of Victims:

   • Traffickers use technology to control victims remotely through location-tracking apps and video calls.

3. Anonymous Operations:

   • The dark web provides a platform for traffickers to operate anonymously and conduct illegal transactions, including organ trafficking, sexual exploitation, and cybersex trafficking.

   • Cryptocurrency can facilitate anonymous transactions.

4. Law Enforcement:

   • Law enforcement uses technology to track and combat trafficking through digital investigations and monitoring online activities.

Example: A young woman is recruited through a fake job advertisement on social media. The trafficker uses video calls to monitor her and location-tracking apps to ensure she doesn't escape. Furthermore, the trafficker sells explicit content involving her on the dark web and uses cryptocurrency for anonymous transactions. This example shows how technology enables traffickers to recruit, control, and exploit victims more efficiently, while also facilitating illegal activities.

Public health impacts include:

1. Spread of Infectious Diseases: Conditions like HIV/AIDS spread due to sexual exploitation.

2. Untreated Chronic Health Conditions: Victims often lack access to necessary medical care.

3. Mental Health Crises and Trauma: Severe psychological impacts from abuse and exploitation.

4. Strain on Healthcare Systems: Increased demand for medical services in destination countries.

Example: Emma, a victim of sex trafficking, suffered from untreated HIV. Her condition, along with severe mental health issues, required a multi-faceted approach by local healthcare resources when she escaped her trafficker. This story illustrates the broad public health impacts of human trafficking.

Victims of human trafficking endure severe psychological effects due to the trauma they experience. Here are the main psychological impacts:

1. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Victims often suffer from PTSD, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.

2. Depression and Anxiety: The constant abuse and exploitation lead to chronic depression and anxiety.

3. Substance Abuse Disorders: Many victims turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their trauma.

4. Trust Issues and Difficulty Forming Relationships: The betrayal and manipulation by traffickers result in deep trust issues and difficulty forming healthy relationships.

5. Low Self-esteem and Feelings of Shame: Victims often feel worthless and ashamed due to the abuse and exploitation they endure.

6. Control of the Trafficker Over the Victim: Traffickers use psychological manipulation and threats to maintain control over their victims, leading to a sense of helplessness and fear. Even the most rational of appeals by a concerned person may fall on deaf ears, due to the effects of the psychological control exerted by the trafficker.

Example: A young girl is lured into sex trafficking with promises of a better life. She is subjected to physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and psychological manipulation. Over time, she develops severe PTSD, struggles with depression and anxiety, and turns to substance abuse to numb her pain. She finds it difficult to trust anyone and feels immense shame and low self-esteem. The trafficker's control over her life leaves her feeling isolated and helpless.

Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are fundamentally different:

1. Nature of the Act:

   • Human Trafficking: Involves the ongoing exploitation of victims. The term “trafficking” indicates a connection to trade and the exploitation of some resource, not necessarily movement. While human trafficking can involve movement, many people are trafficked without ever being moved. A victim may be exploited in their own home.

   • Migrant Smuggling: Refers to the illegal transportation of individuals across borders. The term “smuggling” indicates the movement itself. 

2. Consent:

   • Human Trafficking: Victims may not have consented to their situation, or if they did, their consent was obtained through coercion, deception, or abuse of vulnerability.

   • Migrant Smuggling: Individuals usually consent to be transported, seeking better opportunities or fleeing adverse conditions.

3. Duration:

   • Human Trafficking: Involves ongoing control and exploitation of the victims even after the transportation ends.

   • Migrant Smuggling: Typically ends once the destination is reached, although the journey can still be dangerous.

Example: A young woman in a rural village is forced into domestic servitude in a neighbor's home, beginning years of exploitation. 

In contrast, another individual willingly pays smugglers to cross a border illegally in search of better economic opportunities. On arrival, there is no ongoing exploitation.