Human trafficking refers to the prohibited buying and selling of fellow human beings with the aim of taking advantage of them through engaging them into slavery, commercial sex and forced labour (Cameron and Edward 14). In the year 2000, the United Nations in Italy, initiated the set of rules to put off, contain and penalize people who were found guilty for engaging in human trafficking, especially trafficking of women and young children.
These set of rules were recognized globally as worldwide official agreements and were in conformity with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Human trafficking is basically a process as it involves people being held against their wills before they are transported through illegal processes to the destined locations after which they are exploited (Cameron and Edward 14).
Mostly, the abduction and illegal transport of the humans take place within the borders of their home country, but their exploitation takes place outside the borders of their home country. The methods of kidnapping or coercing the humans vary from one place to another, just like the methods of transporting them. In addition, the various ways through which the humans are exploited also vary from one place to the other; in many instances, much attention has been given to sexual exploitation as opposed to slavery.
In the whole world, it has been so hard to identify the victims of human trafficking, thus, as a result of this; many people do not have sufficient awareness about the existence of this crime. The largely targeted groups by the traffickers are the adult women and the young children as they are considered to be the most vulnerable and the most easily coerced in the society (Candappa 2).
There are various reasons that make the women and the children to be vulnerable and easily coerced by the traffickers. The standards of living in their home countries make them to be easily coerced. Moreover, many of them do not have valid transport documents and mostly rely on the traffickers to organize for the alternative transport not knowing that they have already fallen prey to the traffickers.
Historical overview of human trafficking
Various studies have indicated that between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked globally. Human trafficking is still regarded as a very profitable trade. Various scholars have tipped human trafficking to be the best ever rising illegal trade in the whole world (William 24); in fact, only drug trafficking beats human trafficking as the most money-spinning illegal trade in the world (William 24).
Records indicate that in the year 2004 only, human trafficking produced an income that was approximated to be between $5 billion and $9 billion (Shearer 2). In the year 2005, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that human trafficking realized a global annual profit of $31.6 billion; however, in the year 2008, the United Nations approximated that at least 2.5 million people from nearly 127 countries all over the world were trafficked into 137 countries globally (Shearer 2).
In the recent years, anti-trafficking NGOs all over the world have advocated for the stop of human trafficking. Many governments all over the world have also formulated anti-trafficking policies with the aim of bringing human trafficking to a stop. Their (NGOs and governments) efforts have bore fruits, thus, human trafficking has been on a decline (Piper 76).
It should be noted that âhuman traffickingâ and âpeople smugglingâ are different terms. In the case of âpeople smugglingâ a person voluntarily hires someone (smuggler) to secretly transport him/her to a given destination. After reaching the destination, the individual pays the smuggler and freely goes away.
In the case of human trafficking, the individuals are not free to leave once they arrive at their destinations. The traffickers use all modes of coercion to hold them against their will. They engage them into forced labour and other forms of exploitation (Piper 77).
Various traffickers use a wide range of tactics to bind their victims. The most commonly used tactics are: beating up the victims, locking up the victims in secret rooms and implanting a sense of fear in them so that they donât think of escaping. In other instances, the traffickers can take advantage of their large financial resources to keep the victims enslaved.
The victims are promised a lot of money for work they are supposed to do over a given period of time; this act is commonly referred to as debt bondage or bonded labour (Mattar 80).
In addition, the traffickers always opt to cling to the victimâs money arguing that they are keeping them safely yet they wonât pay them back. Another tactic that is commonly used by the traffickers is to isolate the victims from outsiders. This tactic is aimed at minimizing the victimsâ contacts with the public in order to prevent the public from knowing what is going on.
Human trafficking is a trade that has evolved for so long. Several human rights activists all across the world have expressed their strong disapproval of the illegal business. In many countries, human trafficking has been considered as a federal crime and the punishment could either be a long jail term or a huge fine or both (Mattar 80).
The United States government has been on the forefront to fight human trafficking. From the year 2001, the US government has spent at least $448 million to fund the fight against human trafficking (Gallagher 2); this alone proves that human trafficking is a global phenomenon.
The United Nations and human trafficking
UN’s role in the fight against trafficking in human beings
In March 2007, the United Nations launched the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). UN.GIFT offers a worldwide right to use of the available skills, awareness and both new and modern partnerships aimed at eradicating human trafficking. Under the UN.GIFT initiative, the United Nations ensured that the potential victims of the traffickers were not vulnerable by diminishing the demand for their exploitation.
In addition, the UN ensured that there was sufficient security and sustenance for individuals who have fallen victims of human trafficking. Also, the UN has drummed up support for the speedy and proficient way of prosecuting and convicting the human traffickers. This is a notion that the UN values the basic human rights for every person in the world.
The UN.GIFT was, therefore, launched to support the worldwide fight of human trafficking by bringing the countries together through international agreements. Currently, the UN has managed to convince 137 countries to sign the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially the women and the children; this protocol adds-on the UN.GIFT initiative (Candappa 2).
The United Nations regards human trafficking to be an offense of a high magnitude and no country is capable of handling it on its own; hence, the necessity to have as many stakeholders as possible. Human trafficking is a worldwide problem so all the stakeholders come from all parts of the world (Candappa 2).
Human trafficking, being the fastest growing illegal trade in the whole world, has earned a keen attention from the UN and the UN has laid down efficient strategies to hinder its further growth. Many lives are greatly affected by this illegal trade either directly or indirectly.
The United Nations has promoted the expansion of knowledge concerning human trafficking. In addition, it has partnered with several other stakeholders including NGOs, the media and governments to oppose human trafficking. Moreover, the United Nations has launched programs aimed at supporting and maintaining the victims of human trafficking.
The United Nations in its role in the fight against trafficking in human beings has advocated for spreading the knowledge about human trafficking so that it can be known worldwide. These efforts by the UN have made it possible for the whole world to be familiar with the vice (Cameron and Edward 16).
The United Nations, through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has realized that the most vulnerable targets of the traffickers are the refugees. Wars, uprisings and conflicts all over the world have contributed a lot to the rising numbers of refugees all over the world; this has exposed the refugees to a greater risk of exploitations and other forms of abuse.
The UNHCR has regarded human trafficking as a violation of human rights and as a crime against humanity, especially the women and the children; this has enabled the UNHCR to speed up reforms to enact international laws that safeguard the rights and welfare of the women and the vulnerable children (Cameron and Edward 16).
The United Nationsâ commitment to combat trafficking in human beings has received support and acknowledgement from many nations all over the world. Many nations recognize the role of the women and the children in the society; thus, they work hand in hand with the United Nations to support their projects.
The UN has established the United Nationâs Childrenâs Fund (UNICEF), with the aim of safeguarding the childrenâs welfare by shielding them from various forms of brutality, ill-treatment and exploitation.
When the children are not protected, they become very susceptible to human traffickers (Candappa 2); thus, the human traffickers take advantage of this and engage the children into forced labour or slavery, unlawful adoptions, sexual exploitation and even forced marriages. The UN, therefore, combats trafficking of children with regard to the Convention on the Rights of the Child Agreement (Candappa 2).
The United Nations had tackled worldwide organized crime through its organ called the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The UNODC has facilitated the signing of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol which lays down a theoretical structure to combat trafficking in human beings.
UNODC facilitates the speeding up of reforms in the justice systems of the member countries in order to come up with laws and legislations that do not favour the human traffickers. In addition, the UNODC protects the victims or the potential victims of human trafficking.
These efforts by the United Nations have helped to combat human trafficking in one way or the other. However, all has not been smooth for the United Nations as human trafficking is still rapidly expanding in all parts of the world (Gallagher 2).
Principles of the United Nation in the fight against trafficking in human beings
The United Nations is so much alarmed that the rising instances of trafficking in human beings, mostly the women and children cause so much pain and trauma in the society today (Mattar 82). Millions of people all over the world are fringed of their fundamental human rights by being treated as goods in the market.
The United Nation, therefore, hails the attempts of the various stakeholders and partners who have the common goal of combating this vice. The UN has launched the principle of none-tolerance toward human trafficking through implementing policies that completely prohibit trafficking in human beings.
Another principle adopted by the UN is the sensitization of the public through education and campaigns with the aim of combating trafficking in human beings (Mattar 83). It achieves this through organizing workshops, forums and debates with the agenda of fighting human trafficking. In addition, the UN exposes all the tactics employed by the traffickers and the possible trafficking routes. The UN also educates the public on their rights as human beings so that they stay informed.
Moreover, the UN coordinates with the governments all over the world so as to influence them to revise and amend their laws and regulation with regard to the fight against trafficking in human beings. The governments are also encouraged to enact laws that protect the rights of women and children who have been perceived to be the most vulnerable in the society (Mattar 82).
The UN, therefore, cooperates with the government in punishing the alleged offenders of human trafficking. Nevertheless, the UN has launched the principle of transparency which enables them to exchange information in an appropriate manner.
Another principle launched by the UN to combat trafficking in human beings is strategic planning (Mattar 82). Strategic planning enables the UN to formulate long term strategies and policies for anti-trafficking in human beings. Through strategic planning, the victims or potential victims are provided with a transparent platform to launch their complaints without any fear. These principles facilitate the UNâs effort to seeing an end to trafficking in human beings all over the world.
The UAE role in fighting Human Trafficking
In every year, the UAE plays host to several women, mainly from: Indonesia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Eritrea and India (William 47).
These women mainly come to do household jobs and in the process, they face exploitations such as longer working hours with low pay, default in payment of their salaries, limiting their movements by withholding their passports illegally and various forms of physical or sexual abuse (William 47).
In the same way, the UAE plays host to several men mainly from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (William 47). These men always come to work in the construction industry. They are subjected to the harsh conditions of work and mistreatment such as debt bondage and coercive labour (Mattar 87).
The UAE government has realized this global problem and has come up with measures to combat it. Sex trafficking offenders are on the receiving end as their prosecutions, convictions and sentences have been increased. In addition, the UAE government has launched initiatives to train their police officers on the methods of combating trafficking in human beings. Nonetheless, the UAE government has come up with plans to protect and compensate the victims or the potential victims of human trafficking (Cameron and Edward 17).
The UAE government has laid out mechanisms to prevent exploitation of the foreign workers that make them vulnerable to the traffickers. In October 2007, the Ministry of Labour ordered that the foreign workers should be paid their salaries via an electronic system which could be scrutinized by the relevant authorities (Cameron and Edward 17).
In addition, the UAE government donated $8 million to UNICEF in their bid to sustain child camel jockeys and to avoid re-trafficking (Cameron and Edward 17). In the same way the UAE government has signed MOUs with countries such as Sudan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Mauritania to pay off the past child camel jockeys for the crimes committed against them (Mattar 87).
To further illustrate their commitment to combat trafficking in human beings, the UAE government donated $15 million to facilitate the worldwide UN conference on trafficking in human beings (Candappa 3).
The UAE government is a big proponent of the preservation of human rights by condemning human trafficking. In the year 2006, the UAE government enacted the Federal Law No. 51 that banned human trafficking locally and portrayed the UAEâs effort in combating the illegal trade (Kapur 14).
In order to safeguard the welfare of the vulnerable members (women and children) who are prone to human trafficking, the UAE has established the Ewaâa Shelters to support the victims of human trafficking. Federal Law No. 51 has been enforced by the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking.
The committee has carried out several trainings, workshops, forums and seminars in order to help it accomplish its objectives since its establishment. The committee, therefore, serves as the authorized ambassador of the UAE at the global forums to fight human trafficking.
The National Committee on Combating Human Trafficking is required to hand in reports concerning the current nature of human trafficking and how various countries have laid down strategies to combat it. The UAE government has tightened the laws regarding human trafficking; thus, there have been increased numbers of preventions, prosecutions and convictions in the courts of law (Cameron and Edward 18).
With this regard, the UAE government has upgraded their systems of supervising the issues of immigration and the provision of passports. The system runs on the latest technology and it monitors the entry and exit of foreigners into and from the country. There are stringent rules in place for the application of the entry of children. In addition, there are strict processes for acquiring visit visas; these strict laws also keep an eye on the entry of women from countries which are known for registering a higher percentage of women victims.
In the bid to address the problems facing the human trafficking victims, the UAE government has amended the labour laws to favour the rights of the unskilled labour force. The unskilled labourers, thus, receive enough protection from exploitation and infringements of their labour rights.
The UAE government does this by ensuring that the salaries of the workers are paid on time and further punish companies which delay or fail to pay the workers. Moreover, the human trafficking victims are given shelter and care by the UAE government until they are ready to leave for their home countries (Mattar 87).
Similarly, the UAE has tightened its legislations toward the traditional camel racing sport; many children were exploited by being forced or coerced in participating in the sport. The children were, therefore, rescued and transported back to their home countries-over 1,070 child jockeys were returned to their homes, mainly Africa and Asia (Mattar 88).
The UAE government has established a Social Support Center based in Abu Dhabi so as to follow-up on the victims of human trafficking. The center exchanges information with other relevant institutions on the way to move forward in terms of assisting the victims (Cameron and Edward 18).
The Social Support Center acts as a healing center for the human trafficking victims; they get over their physical injuries and psychological injuries from the effects of exploitations while in the hands of the traffickers (Gallagher 2). While in the center, the victims are given the support that they require, after which they are provided with temporary travel documents to facilitate their journey back home.
Through the center, the UAE works in collaboration with other relevant centers to formulate policies and sign agreements that oppose the rapidly rising trade of human trafficking (Gallagher 2). In addition, through the center, the UAE issues annual reports to expound on the position of the government in combating human trafficking and what plans the government has for the human trafficking victims.
Conclusion
Human trafficking is the illegal business of trading human beings. The human trafficking victims are subjected to all sorts of inhumane treatments such as; exploitation by engaging them in forced labour, sexual exploitation and slavery. Mostly, the victims are abducted and transported to the destined countries and held against their will.
They are locked up in secret locations and are not allowed to interact with the public. Their movements are monitored and restricted. Human trafficking is still the fastest growing trade globally and it has received condemnation from various leaders and activists all over the world.
Global organizations, like the United Nations, have launched efforts to combat trafficking in human beings. These efforts aim at creating awareness to the public through education, sensitization, workshops and forums. In addition the United Nations has launched mechanisms to help or compensate the vulnerable victims of human trafficking.
Based on their principle of none-tolerance on human trafficking, the UN has taken initiatives to expose the trafficking routes and influence the partners or stakeholders to tighten their legislations concerning trafficking in human beings. As a result several preventions, prosecutions and convictions have been made all across the world.
The UAE, in its bid to combat human trafficking has taken the initiative to support the human trafficking victims. In addition, they have tightened their labour laws so that the foreign workers are paid through upgraded systems that allowed for supervision and monitoring.
The UAE has tightened their migration laws, especially to the women migrants who originate from trafficking prone areas; this is a security strategy aimed at limiting their vulnerability. On a regular basis, the UAE donates some funds to support the international organizations that fight human trafficking.
Works Cited
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