Trafficking

Country Reports

AFRICA
• Congo
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe

ASIA
• Japan

CENTRAL AMERICA
• Nicaragua

EUROPE
• Belgium
• Britain
• France
• Italy

NORTH AMERICA
• Mexico
• United States

SOUTH AMERICA
• Brazil
• Peru

According to the United Nations: “Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force (…), for the purpose of exploitation”. (Protocol to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Palermo 2000.))

Trafficking in human beings is a multi-billion-dollar form of international organized crime, constituting modern-day slavery. Victims are recruited and trafficked between countries and regions using deception or coercion. They are stripped of their autonomy, freedom of movement and choice, and face various forms of physical and mental abuse. Trafficking in human beings is a crime under international law and many national and regional legal systems. Apart from the grave breach of fundamental human rights, trafficking may also violate immigration and labour legislation as well as a variety of criminal regulations.

Trafficking in women for sexual exploitation – This prevalent form of trafficking affects every region in the world, either as a source, transit or destination country. Women and children from developing countries, and from vulnerable parts of society in developed countries, are lured by promises of decent employment into leaving their homes and travelling away. Victims are often provided with false travel documents and an organized network is used to transport them to the destination country, where they find themselves forced into sexual slavery and held in inhumane conditions and constant fear.

Trafficking for forced labour – Victims of this equally widespread form of trafficking come primarily from developing countries. They are recruited and trafficked using deception and coercion and find themselves held in conditions of slavery in a variety of jobs. Men, women and children are engaged in agricultural and construction work, domestic servitude and other labour-intensive jobs.

Trafficking in organs – Trafficking in humans for the purpose of using their organs, in particular kidneys, is a rapidly growing field of criminal activity. In many countries waiting lists for transplants are very long, and criminals have seized this opportunity to exploit the desperation of patients and potential donors. Victims are often misinformed about the medical aspects of the organ removal and deceived about the sums they will receive. Their health, even life, is at risk as operations may be carried out in clandestine conditions with no medical follow-up. Doctors and other medical staff are often part of the criminal networks involved in this crime.