Human Rights Approach To Transnational Human Trafficking

Human Rights Approach to Transnational Human Trafficking

1. Introduction Human trafficking is a complex issue that affects nearly every part of the world, with human trafficking organizations particularly prominent in Asia, former Soviet countries, Mexico, Balkans and Nigeria. A recent CNN report about the sale of African migrants as slaves in Libya has thrust human trafficking back into the limelight of public discourse, inciting outrage, protests and international condemnation.

Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines Trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms

In 2012, President Obama described human trafficking as ‘modern slavery’. According to Dr. Bales, there are more slaves now[2012] than at any other time in history . Contrary to popular opinion, the number of slaves in the world is not decreasing, but

In the era of globalization, socio-economic disparities play a significant role in as trans-national human trafficking generally occurs from poorer to wealthier nations. Economic need also increases the vulnerability and sense of desperation of potential victims. Mexican traffickers, known as “coyotes,” take advantage of desperate situations of existing poverty and hardship in Mexico - the prevalent origin country of trafficking victims in the United States - and promise safe passage to a new life in the United States