New York: In order to counter the growing menace of trafficking in the developing nations the root causes of trafficking must be identified and tackled.
No country in today’s world is safe from the hazards of human trafficking. But the nationals of the poor developing nations are more prone to human trafficking and are the ones to mostly fall prey to this enormous trade. Developing nations are faced with several problems which make it a safe haven for human traffickers to operate and exploit their victims.
Based on the interviews, research and questionnaires I find the following recommendations helpful in controlling human trafficking. Governments of the developing nations must tackle this problem which is growing more rampant day by day. There must be coordinated efforts if success is to be met in eradicating this crime.
Governments of these developing nations must get rid of the flawed system that exists in their society. Laws present in these countries are not inadequate and those which are present are not properly implemented. A task force needs to be formed for the proper and effective formation of laws that would enhance the mechanism to counter the problem of trafficking. Corrupt authorities which also include law enforcement agencies and other government officials are a part of the illegal human trafficking network. Steps must be taken to rid the system of such corrupt officers and ensure their speedy prosecution to up an example for others not to indulge in such activities. Migration policies should not be inconsistent and must conform to the labor market realities. Traffickers in developing nations are faced with several opportunities as they can act with impunity. They hardly face arrests and face minimum prosecution.
The law enforcement agencies must be properly trained and equipped to arrest and dismantle networks of groups involved in human trafficking. The law enforcement agencies must identify the children and adults who are at risk. The criminal elements in this profitable evil trade should be apprehended and prosecuted. Interviews need to be conducted, intelligence must be sought and investigations must be undertaken to wipe out these networks.
The judicial system in the developing nations should be made more reliable, effective and credible. Defected judicial system in these countries hinders access of justice for the victims of human trafficking and allows traffickers to operate with impunity.
Governments should refrain from policies that facilitate human trafficking. Governments by denying the existence of such problems in their country, by lack of effective legislation and criminal justice procedure, by lack of effective law enforcement agencies, by the presence of corrupt officers and poor labor laws play into the hands of these human traffickers. Governments must also refrain from trade and economic policies that serve to extend the gap between the rich and poor people in their country. Such policies must be discontinued. Governments must also ratify international conventions and protocols regarding human trafficking. A national strategy must be defined and national plan developed to control human trafficking. Relevant laws must be drafted and properly implemented. Official corruption must be reduced with proper investigation followed by prosecution. Governments must also safe promote safe migration by creating and supporting mechanism for safe and efficient legal migration. Awareness must be raised and necessary education given to intending immigrants to make them aware of the dangers of human trafficking. The migration laws must be brought in line with current labor market realities in the region. Attempts must also be made to prevent trafficking through education, improved awareness among vulnerable children and women with improved protection networks at community level.
Poverty and economic imbalances between the developing and developed countries encourage migration and such people fall prey into the hands of human traffickers. Governments must take proper steps to lower the unemployment rate and to provide a better atmosphere for those employed. Families should also play their role as some of the victims of human trafficking are runaway children who leave their homes due to abusive family environment. Parents need to provide love and affection to their children so that they are not forced to run away from their homes.
Faced with separatist movements and hostile neighbors Developing nations are mostly involved in regional armed conflict at home.. These war and armed conflict situation creates refugees and increase their vulnerability to human trafficking.
The major routes of trafficking must be identified. A collective force must be formed by the developing nations to ensure that these routes are properly patrolled and not used by the traffickers.
Pornographic content especially pornographic photos of children and women must be removed from the internet. The internet helps in providing an easy link between the traffickers and their clients who want to satisfy their lust. Such clients can easily search, find and choose women and children and purchase them through the use of credit cards etc.
Governments must also crackdown on sex tourism. Sex tourism is a very fast growing industry where victims are trafficked to satisfy the lust of tourists. It serves to increase the demand for trafficking resulting in supply of victims who are mostly national of poor nations. Attacking poverty and unemployment is the most important tool in fighting trafficking. While poverty fuels trafficking, trafficking in turn serves to feed prostitution and increase incidents of child and women sex trafficking along with an increase in child labor. Parents struck with poverty and burdened with debt are forced to sell their children to human traffickers. Women faced with unemployment and tired of poverty are an easy target for human traffickers who lure them into the traps by false promises of good jobs with handsome salary package abroad.
Human trafficking cannot be eliminated by focusing on one determinant alone, for example education or enforcement of anti-trafficking laws. Governments must ensure that the needs of the poor are addressed. If poverty is controlled then the need for human trafficking will automatically diminish. Otherwise no matter how hard a country tries human trafficking will always exist until the need for it is removed. Developing nations are faced with a society where children are growing up illiterate as they are forced to work; people are faced with poverty and unemployment. A cycle of poverty is formed and the need for child labor, prostitution and conditions fruitful for human trafficking are reborn generation after generation. Governments need to address the situation by tackling the underlying causes through proper enforcement of these policies.. Trafficked people are mostly the vulnerable and powerless minorities of a region. Steps must be taken to ensure their safety from human trafficking.
The adoption process whether legal or illegal is also on of the causes of trafficking of babies and pregnant women between the western and developing world.
Victims of trafficking should be given shelter and their human rights protected. They should receive medical treatment, food assistance, rehabilitation and jobs. They should not be victimized twice as it is common that victims are often treated as criminals once they are rescued. Measures must also be taken for their protection from retribution by traffickers, corrupt authorities and employers. Mechanisms for their rescue return and reintegration into the society must be improved. Government and NGO’s must also initiate programs to create employment opportunities for the victims of human trafficking.
National legislation must be broadened to include appropriate punishment for perpetrators of this ignominious crime.
Governments should also gain intelligence of places such as nightclubs, bars, modeling studios, hospitals, escort services, marriage parlors, restaurants, factories, fishing fleets, construction sites, commercial agriculture, shelters, internet cafes and private residences which are a possible source where victims of human trafficking can be found. Areas suspected to harbor victims of human trafficking should be raided and thoroughly investigated. It is also the responsibility of the public to report any suspicious activities.
Developing nations should also seek help from UN and international community apart from making coordinated attempts with other countries. The problem of trafficking is global and hence it can only be tackled once global efforts are made to wipe out human trafficking. Regional, national or local efforts will be fruitless.
