Abstract
The complex relationship between human trafficking and the commodification of human beings in contemporary times has opened a gap in knowledge too difficult to grasp. This is because human trafficking is implicated in nearly every human economic endeavor in the world today. It lends credence to why contemporary research on human trafficking has demonstrated that societies are today increasingly characterized by the economics of demand and supply with “profit” victimization and exploitation being key determinants. Far from being a curious datum of human existence, human trafficking has emerged as key disquiet for many societies at the turn of the new century, legitimizing a brand-new element in capitalism that has supplemented slavery as workers are free to sell their labour and remain psychologically manipulated. This study, therefore, is an attempt to respond to the thesis that human trafficking occurs within the context of widespread objectification and commodification of persons as “products” in economies in which they have little power for self-determination and self-sufficiency.
TopIntroduction
Human trafficking is a multidimensional human rights violation that centers on the act of exploitation. Human trafficking and exploitation occur in any given society as a result of the power imbalance between the worker and the employer. This holds true for migrants and nationals, as well as workers in the formal and informal economy (Tsutsumi et al, 2014). The exploitation that is at the heart of human trafficking comprises different forms of abuse, such as physical confinement, serious occupational hazards, violence, and threats, extensive hours, poor pay, and extortionate debt to mention just but a few. These forms of abuse occur across a spectrum at varying levels of severity (Silverman et al, 2008). Given the widespread undervaluation of women’s work in general, women’s exploitation in certain “feminised” sectors is practically normalised and entrenched. Thus, human trafficking is a compound societal issue that involves the exploitation of humans for monetary gain or benefit. As a modern form of slavery, human trafficking violates human rights, presents a global public health concern, and is prevalent in both impoverished and wealthy nations (Edwards, 2007). Victims range from domestic workers (such as housekeepers and nannies), to laborers (including factory, construction, mining, commercial fishing, food service and agricultural), sex workers, beggars and child soldiers.
Ultimately, it is pertinent to note that the risk factors for trafficking increase when individuals are vulnerable due to poverty, the attraction of perceived higher standards of living elsewhere, lack of employment, organized crime, conflict, natural disasters or other such factors. The demand for cheap labor and for prostituted women, girls and boys drives trafficking (Davidson, 2016). Human trafficking often begins with fraudulent recruitment methods, such as promises of employment, marriage or a better life. It starts out as recruitment or movement and ends with exploitation. Migration is an element of trafficking, but not all migrants become trafficking victims. Similarly, trafficking does not necessarily involve migration or movement. For example, statistics for juveniles indicate that between 2008 and 2010, 83 percent of confirmed sex trafficking incidents in the United States involved U.S. citizens (US Department of State, 2016). When a person through coercion, deception, force, abuse of power or power of vulnerability moves within her/his country or to another country for the purpose of exploitation, he/she becomes a human trafficking victim (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2004).
Due to its clandestine nature, it is difficult to detect and gather statistics on the crime of human trafficking. For analysts and practitioners, measuring its prevalence is both difficult and complicated. Sources estimate that between 27 million and 45.8 million individuals around the world are victims of human trafficking (US Department of State, 2016 & Global Slavery Index, 2016). Moreover, for traffickers, exploiting humans is an extremely profitable enterprise. Globally, forced labor and sexual exploitation generate an estimated $150 billion annually in illegal profits, making it one of the largest sources of profit for global organized crime, second only to illicit drugs (UNODC, 2014).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Slavery: Following on from the broader idea of exploitation, slavery is a specific type of exploitation to which a person may be subjected. According to the Slavery Convention of 1926, a slave is a person who is owned. Slavery is the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised ( Bales, 2004 ).
Vulnerability: Trafficking is to a great extent linked to the various kind of abuse of people in vulnerable situations. It is defined in assortment of ways in statute books and international instruments. It highlights the lack of alternatives for a victim when submitting to the abuse. Thus, different groups advocates that the notion of vulnerability is treated in a wide sense by including situations of poverty and economic deprivation.
Exploitation: Once trafficked, individuals often become victims of exploitation. At its most basic, exploitation means treating someone unfairly to your own advantage or in order to benefit from their work. The United Nations states, “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” (UNDOC, 2014 AU70: The in-text citation "UNDOC, 2014" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).
Trafficking: In contemporary culture, trafficking has become an umbrella term that includes slavery, exploitation, and the forced movement of people. However, trafficking has a specific meaning. It refers to the illegal recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring and receiving of people for the purpose of exploiting them. The trafficker often has power or control over the victim through threats, coercion, abduction, deception, or blackmail. Some countries, especially in Africa, define illegal people movement as trafficking only where it involves cross-border activity. However, this view of trafficking is too narrow as much of such trafficking activities happens within national borders in many instances.