Human Trafficking Flashcards
Facilitators of HT
Impact
Victims
Globalization, poverty and violence
Affects both developed and developing countries and is the highest-ranking criminal activity worldwide
Victims of unwanted pregnancies, and people living in the streets or homes with absent parents become vulnerable to HT.
Some parents resort to selling their children for income.
widespread poverty and social inequalities are recruits of HT.
Nature and extent of HT
Global Slavery Index 2023 states that there’s an estimate of 50 million slaves worldwide today
North Korea has the highest number of slaves in 2023 with 104 of 1000 inhabitants being enslaved
South Africa has 45000 slaves today with 28000 children being trafficked for sexual exploitation
Definition of HT
The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring and receipt of persons
using threats, force, coercion, abuse of power or exploitation of vulnerability
It involves the exchange of payment for documents that give content to control a person for purposes of Human trafficking
Process of Human Trafficking
Recruitment method
Partial recruitment- Victims are aware of the employment but are unaware of the exploitation part of the job (hired as stripper but is unaware that will be sexually exploited as a stripper)
Full Recruitment- of the knowledge that they will receive employment and financial gain but fully unaware of the true intentions of the trafficker
(hired as an accountant but is subjected to sexual exploitation instead)
Forcible recruit- Recruited unwillingly through use of force or coercion.
Transportation: The movement of victims from origin, transit or destination countries
either legally or illegally
on land, sea or air
and victim are often accompanied by traffickers and their documents are retained
Exploitation: Various forms
Major forms of Human trafficking
Forced labour
Sex trafficking
Bonded labour
Involuntary domestic servitude
Debt bondage
Forced child labour
Child soldiers
Child sex trafficking
Child sex tourism
Baby trafficking
Animal trafficking
Differences between trafficking and smuggling
- Payment
Traffickers exploit victims for financial gain while smugglers help clients cross borders for a fee - Consent
Potential victim of traffickers acgree to travel with T based on false info, force or coercion while clients are aware of the destination in which they are being smuggled to as well as all the administation costs
Relationship
The relationship between T and V continues even when the destination is reached where the victim continues to be subjected to exploitation while the relationship between smuggler and client ends after the client crosses the border as the primary goal is to facilitate illegal crossing not engage in exploitation
How traffickers control victims
Traffickers control their victims through threats, document confiscation, debt
bondage, isolation, violence, fear, voodoo/juju/black magic, and substance abuse
(drugs/alcohol)
Why criminals engage in HT
Primarily for personal gain
It is the most lucrative criminal activity
Low risk for traffickers
Victims can be repeatedly exploited or reused
Challenges in SA
Cultural and ethnic attitudes towards sex with young people
Poverty
Female emancipation
Fractured families
Porous borders
Supply and demand dynamics
Law enforcement deficiencies
Difficulty defining HT and collection of accurate statistics
Prevention of HT
Prevention efforts in South Africa include the Palermo Protocol, which focuses on
protecting victims, preventing the crime through legislation, and prosecuting
traffickers.
South Africa has the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons
(PACOTIP) Act to criminalize various aspects of trafficking and impose harsh
penalties.
Additionally, addressing myths
breaking the silence
International collaboration,
Effective enforcement of anti-trafficking legislation are crucial.
Trafficking Victims Protections Act (TVPA) minimum standards
A report that serves as a diplomatic tool for the USA gov in engaging with other countries about HT
Monitors and categorises countries according to their compliance with the Palermo Protocol using 3 tier system
Tier 1: Gov fully complies with minimum standards
Tier 2 Gov is not yet in compliance with minimum standards but is making efforts to comply
Tier 3: Gov not in compliance and is not making efforts to comply (often in double risk countries)
Conclusion
The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to
combat human trafficking.
This global issue requires collaboration between
governments and civil society to address root causes and effectively prevent and
prosecute human trafficking.
Achieving a Tier 1 rating in the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report is a goal that South Africa should aim for to demonstrate its commitment
to combatting human trafficking
