According to international experts around 2.5 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, whether it is in the form of forced labor, prostitution or child labor. However the end result is the same. It is a modern form of slavery. It is the fastest growing criminal industry worth billions of dollars to its operators. Almost 80% of the victims are women and children as they are more vulnerable to criminals of human trafficking.
- UN estimates 4 million people are trafficked every year generating revenue of 7 billion dollars in profits to criminals involved in this trade.
- CIA reports 45,000 to 50,000 women are brought illegally into U.S. for sexual exploitation.
- Study estimates that between 0.25% to 1.5% of the total female population in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines is engaged in prostitution.
- Up to 40,000 pornographic photos of children mostly from South East Asia can be found on the net.
- According to ECPAT, an international NGO 1 million children are involved in sex tourism in Asia of which 300,000 are in Thai, 100,000 in Thailand and 40,000 in Vietnam .
- U.S. department estimates 600,000 to 800,000 people mostly women and children are trafficked across internationally borders annually.
- U.S. department estimates 150,000 South Asians are trafficked every year.
- Some estimates are that 1.2 million children are trafficked every year.
- UNICEF estimates that across the world over 1 million enter sex trade every year and approximately 30 million have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation over the past 30 years.
- Eleven countries having the largest no of trafficking victims are Belarus , Lithuania , Romania , and china, Thailand , Nigeria , Bulgaria , Moldova , Russia , Ukraine and Albania .
- According to ILO 15% of India’s estimated 2.3 million prostitutes were children while the UN estimated 40% of the prostitutes were under the age of 18.
- Council of Europe states human trafficking has an annual market of 42.5 billion dollars.
- Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry.
- U.S. department estimates 300,000 women and children are involved in sex trade throughout South East Asia .
- UNICEF estimated 60,000 children are involved in prostitution in Philippines.
In this modern era the world has become a global village due to globalization. It is convenient for people to move from one area to another or one country to another at a faster pace. Individuals, groups and translational networks engaged in human trafficking have found expedients way for their business as a result of “globalization”. Unfortunately advantages of globalization have been more effectively and practically employed by human traffickers than the international community, governments, U.N and NGOs to fight human trafficking.
Human trafficking has an adverse affect on its victims as it impinges on their safety, welfare and violates their basic human rights. It can be termed as a modern form of slavery. In this form of slavery victims are coerced into prostitution and forced work through threats and use of force.
Unfortunately this evil business is increasing at an alarming rate people and communities across the globe. ILO estimates the number of victims at about 2.5 million a year. It has an annual market of over 30 billion U.S. dollars.
The developing nations are mostly prone to this problem. Poverty, lack of opportunities, lack of education, unemployment, lack of security personnel to combat human trafficking and a flawed judicial system make these states prone to human traffickers. Developing nations are the markets being employed by human traffickers. These states serve as the main supply for the market of human trafficking.
This illegal trade affects peoples from all over the world. It deserves attention from governments, NGOS, social groups and particularly the media and journalists. They must come forward to provide information and awareness to the people on this issue as well as with solutions to this issue and implement them sincerely. This will enable people to protect themselves and their families especially their women and children from falling into the hands of human traffickers. Studies and research work to obtain the real reasons behind human trafficking are of paramount importance as it will enable the combat against human trafficking to be won more effectively.
