Human Trafficking In South Asia

In the continuation of bonded labor practice in the South Asian region, the Hindu cast system’s inhumane traditions are playing an important role too. Those found working coercively in this region due to debt bondage are mostly Dalits and members from indigenous factions of the society. Majority illiterate, such people are bound to live in destitute and this is not new to them as they have been living such deplorable lives since years while facing systematic discrimination in every aspect. Unfortunately, these are the victims of caste system where any deviation or attempt to alteration in the social hierarchy by one group is paid back via severe punishment from the other group; a self-perpetuating component of Hindu traditions. The concept

According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (UNODC 2009), trafficking in women and girls is at its peak on account of sexual exploitation and being the most common case accounts for 795 of all similar cases. Trafficking for labor exploitation follows this percentage by 18%. Quite tragically, the percentage human trafficking is: women 66%, girls 13%, men 12% and boys 9%. Though, there may be some misrepresentation in these figure yet these are more than enough to draw attention of international community.

As a matter of fact, trafficking is more obvious with country pairs having greater income disparities and located in close neighborhood. Place for the relocation of victims is quite wisely decided; they are recruited in countries having greater population living in poverty and are exploited in countries having higher incomes to ensure maximization of profits. In fact, both recruitment and exploitation activities are carried out keeping in view small distances geographically as low cost is incurred in logistic and victims transportation. Furthermore, the most desirable route chosen for trafficking is the one that is favored for migration and serves as a refugees corridor for here they can make they feet firm by using deceptive tactics in the name of assisting migration (Hernandez, Diego; Rudolph, Alexandra

It is difficult to accept that slavery still exits and people are often taken aback by the suggestion. This ignorance may partly be explained by the scarcity of literature on this topic. Books and articles which deal with this issue are profusely about slavery in the USA, or in the Western Hemisphere, generally (e.g. Harker, 1994; Rohan, 1988; cf. Ezard, 1996; Sowell, 1994). This is true of both academic and popular literature (Anti-Slavery International 1993a). Furthermore, people have the tendency to not understand that contemporary slavery may take several forms, including traditional “Chattel” slavery, debt bondage, serfdom, child labor, servile marriage, servile domestic work, forced labor, and slavery for ritual or religious purposes (Anti-Slavery International, 1995b, c). Victims of these practices are mainly distinguished by their vulnerability and their poverty (Fisk, R, 1995). They generally include women, children, migrant workers, groups attributed low social status, nomadic groups and/or indigenous peoples (McDonagh,