An Introduction to Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is an epidemic that affects millions of people each year. It has become so widespread that the products you use may be created by the exploitation of humans, a.k.a human trafficking. Imagine this typical scenario, before a hard day or work you got to Starbucks to pick up your daily cup of coffee. The cup of Starbucks you pick up everyday also touched the hands of the humans enslaved in human trafficking. Human trafficking is a business that has become a billion dollar industry, that is still thriving in the 21st century. Therefore, people have begun to discuss this controversial topic in recent years because the widespread issue has been impossible to avoid. Human trafficking is only the second largest criminal industry, coming after the drug business or drug trade; As the general public have become more aware about this issue, organisations like the UNODC have become more involved in the topic as well. Because everybody has different values/beliefs, there are various perspectives on this topic that I will explain today. There are many important people “sitting at the table” debating the issue of whether human trafficking is justifiable or not. Human Rights Advocates believes that human trafficking is not justifiable because the violation of human rights. Human Trafficking Victims believe that trafficking is not justifiable because of the transgression of moral boundaries during the act of trafficking and the effects that can come after the traumatic situation. Human traffickers/business owners believe that human trafficking is justifiable because of the economic incentive of this industry. They want to use the low risk, high-profit business to make some quick money; This most likely happens in developing countries as this is a good business to support yourself and others at the no cost of yourself. Although human trafficking may bring economic benefits to the traffickers and other people involved, it is still a transgression of human rights and an issue that everyone should care about.


UNODC

UNODC defines trafficking as " the recruitment, transportation, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms 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”.