Global Challenge of Human Trafficking & Smuggling (From Resource Material Series No. 62, P 3-15, 2004, Simon Cornell, ed. -- See NCJ-206385)

• NCJ Number: 206386
• Author(s): Farooq Azam
• Date Published: February 2004
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Japan
• Note: Presented at the 122nd International Training Course, "The Effective Administration of Criminal Justice to Tackle Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants," September 2 - October 24, 2002, in Tokyo, Japan.

Annotation

This paper discusses the nature, prevalence, and causes of global trafficking and smuggling of humans, as well as the international response to it.

Abstract

The illegal "smuggling" of migrants involves taking immigrants to another country outside of legal channels of immigration for a fee. When the immigrate reaches the promised destination, there is no further interaction or control between the illegal immigrant and the smuggler. Human trafficking, on the other hand, involves the same transporting operation as smuggling but include subjecting the immigrant to slaver-like conditions and or forced prostitution in the destination country. Trafficking in persons mainly involves young women, girls, and children. The Trafficking in Persons Report released by the United States Government in June 2002 estimates the number of persons trafficked in 2001 as between 700,000 to 4 million. The wide range of this estimate reflects the difficulties in estimating the number of victims with any accuracy, given the secretive nature of the criminal operations. Countries whose populations are economically and socially disadvantaged are susceptible to the enticements offered by traffickers. Traffickers in turn are motivated by lucrative demands for commercial sex and cheap labor in destination countries. It is estimated that trafficking and smuggling operations produce approximately 7 billion U.S. dollars annually for the organizations involved. The global scale of immigrant smuggling and human trafficking requires international cooperation to counter the problem and bring relief to victims. Destination countries must work with transit and source countries to prevent trafficking and help with the reintegration of victims into their home societies. Many international instruments are now available to deal with numerous issues related to trafficking and international cooperation. This paper concludes with brief summaries of initiatives at various regional levels throughout the world that offer promise for bilateral or multilateral agreements on migration management. 10 references