Recent trends in trafficking in human beings

Despite the continuing difficulties in collecting statistical data in this area, most actors involved in combating trafficking in human beings agree that it is a growing phenomenon. At world level, estimates reach as high as 700 000 women and children being moved across international borders by trafficking rings each year. Some non-governmental organisations estimate the number to be significantly higher, especially if trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation is included.

The traditional flow between certain developing countries (Northern and Central Africa, Latin America, Asia) and Western destination countries continues. However, the most striking factor, which gives rise to great concern, is the increase in the numbers of women and children trafficked into the EU from Central and Eastern European countries. The worsening of the economic situation in these countries has had a direct effect on the flow of trafficking in women. Estimates of up to 120 000 women and children being trafficked into western Europe each year have been made. The majority of these countries have according to their own law enforcement officials become, to various degrees, both countries of origin, transit as well as countries of destination. Many women originating from the Newly Independent States are being trafficked via the candidate countries before ending up in EU Member States. The phenomenon of re-trafficking within the EU has also been noted as one new and developing factor.

All Member States are, to a greater or lesser extent, affected by trafficking in women. More specifically, trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation has increased in recent years in parallel to the development of the sex industry. Although certain figures have been collected by police and NGOs as well as international organisations, it is here again difficult to gather reliable overall figures.

Law enforcement experience shows that, although there is small scale traffic involving few individuals, there are, more importantly, large enterprises and international networks creating a sophisticated and well organised “industry” with political support and economic resources in countries of origin, transit and destination. Cases of corruption of officials have also been reported. There seems also to be links with other forms of criminality. Trafficking in women is becoming a major source of income for some organised crime groups. High profits gained by these criminal organisations often imply the creation of front companies involved in legitimate activities. Profits are also laundered and fed into other ilicit activities, including narcotics and arms trafficking.

Traffickers of women and children use a variety of methods to move their victims. They sometimes operate through nominally reputable employment agencies, travel agencies, entertainment companies or marriage agencies. In the cases of children the use of adoption procedures have also been noted. Legitimate travel documents are often obtained and used to cross international borders, after which the trafficking victims disappear or overstay their visas. Traffickers, however, also use fraudulent documents to obtain genuine travel documents or use altered or counterfeit papers.

Looking more specifically at trafficking in women, the recruitment of the victims takes various forms. Traffickers profit from the fragile social and economic situation of women and lure their victims by promising them large earnings in the West. Accepting such offers could support not only the victims themselves, but also their families. Traffickers approach women by advertising in newspapers for dancers, waitresses, club hostesses etc. or by direct recruitment in discotheques and bars. They also lure women through the use of marriage bureaus. Even if a certain number of the trafficked women know they will work as prostitutes, they do not know that they will often be kept in slavery like conditions being unable to escape from their exploiters. After the women are transported to the country of destination, there are several ways in which they are forced to enter and/or to continue with prostitution. Often they are obliged to repay heavy debts consisting of the costs of the documentation and transport, or their passports and money are taken away, or they are led into drug addiction by their exploiters.

Frequently the trafficked women are threatened with violence, beaten up and raped. In some cases women are physically restrained to prevent them from leaving. Traffickers also threaten to inform the family of the women that they are working abroad as prostitutes. These women also feel trapped because of their situation as illegal immigrants. Finally, the influence over the victims is even stronger when the criminal organisations control the whole chain from recruitment, through transportation to the concrete sexual exploitation.

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Trafficking is a subject that divides those who come into contact with it. Much of the concern expressed about its causes and consequences has been emotional. For example, dwelling on the plight of women and children trafficked into prostitution and sweatshop work. The role of the criminal organizations has been highlighted in a human trade that some put on a par with drugs and arms smuggling in its profitability and perniciousness. Governments have announced measures to control what they deem to be an assault on their borders.

The main aim of Interpol is to promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police authorities. It provides a structured platform for raising awareness, building competence and identifying best practices within law enforcement worldwide. It is a forum for exchanging information on current trends and investigations. Trafficking in human beings is considered one of the top priorities at Interpol and only by ascertaining the true character of trafficking can we hope to adapt appropriate measures against it.

Different definitions and expressions are used to describe smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings. Interpol does not have its own definitions for these issues. Consequently, reference was made to the definitions in the protocols supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. These definitions are as follows:

Smuggling of migrants – shall mean the procurement, in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit, of the illegal entry of a person into a State Party of which the person is not a national or a permanent resident.

Trafficking in persons – shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring 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 labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

The sexual abuse of children by adults to satisfy their own perversions is a global problem. With modern methods of travel and communication, people with a similar interest move from country to country to abuse children. Since the introduction of the Internet, are also able to network exchanging child pornography and information in vast quantities and in very short periods of time.

In 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child passed the most popular resolution ever, which has now been adopted by more than 190 Countries, declaring that all children must be protected from all forms of abuse. Specific mention was made of sexual abuse and that that all nations should take all appropriate measures to prevent the use of children in prostitution and the production of pornography.

Interpol's involvement in the investigation of offences against children also began in 1989 following the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Interpol started working on this important issue and co-ordinated the international fight to eradicate the exploitation of, and crimes against, children.

Children are the most vulnerable individuals in society, they are also the most precious commodity that the world has and have a right to be protected from all forms of abuse.

Interpol as an organization is also committed to eradicating the sexual abuse of children and have passed its own resolutions in support of this.

The trafficking of women for sexual exploitation is an international, organized, criminal phenomenon that has grave consequences for the safety, welfare and human rights of its victims.

Trafficking in women is a criminal phenomenon that violates basic human rights, and totally destroying victims' lives. Countries are affected in various ways. Some see their young women being lured to leave their home country and ending up in the sex industry abroad. Other countries act mainly as transit countries, while several other receive foreign women who become victims of sexual exploitation.

It is a global problem in which Interpol actively seeks to increase and improve international law enforcement co-operation in order to help combat this crime.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 1251