Human trafficking is a $32 billion industry that affects over 27 million victims worldwide each year. Victims are typically recruited through false promises, transported across borders while having their passports taken, and sold into situations of abuse and rights violations. The recruitment, transportation, and arrival of victims establishes a chain that maintains control over vulnerable people. Poverty, discrimination, and social exclusion are among the root causes that make people susceptible to trafficking. The UN works to prevent trafficking through initiatives and protocols that protect victims and promote international cooperation.

1. Human Trafficking

2. The Facts in Numbers27 million modern-day slaves across the world.800,000 trafficked across international borders.80% of victims are women and children.32 billion yearly profits generated by the human trafficking industry.There are 161 countries affected by trafficking that are classified as the following 127 countries of origin; 98 transit countries; 137 destination countries

3. The Human Trafficking Chain Recruitment This is the stage where the trafficking victims are believed to be at the most vulnerable state and therefore more susceptible to false promises. At this point recruiters might even receive money from the victims with the promise of work abroad.

4. The Human Trafficking Chain Transportation In order to maintain their vulnerable status, victims are typically transported to a foreign country accompanied by the initial recruiter and therefore establishing a sense of trust between the victims and the recruiter.

5. The Human Trafficking ChainArrivalThe recruiter now passes on his victims to the next member of the chain. “The middle man” who receives the victims and then takes them to where they are “wanted”. At this point, the passports are moved from the recruiter to the “middleman” to ensure continued control and elimination of the possibility of escape.

6. The Human Trafficking ChainFinal Destination The “middleman” now sells the victims. This will end up being where the victims will reside. Here they will suffer from the worst forms of abuse and their most fundamental rights violated.

7. Countries of Origin

8. Countries of Transit

9. Countries of Destination

10. Human Trafficking and the Root CausesPovertyDiscriminationSocial Exclusion

11. Human Trafficking vs Forced LaborThe act of trafficking in itself has proven to be a violation of human rightsThe three factors (force, fraud and coercion) are present in both. They are the core of modern day slaveryHuman Trafficking is the modern day slave trade. It requires transport from one place to another – even though it might occur internally within one country- but transport has to occurAfter being trafficked an individual might end up as a forced laborer however that is sometimes not the case. The act of trafficking in itself has proven to be a violation of human rights.

12. The United NationsUN.GIFTThe United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) was conceived to promote the global fight on human trafficking, on the basis of international agreements reached at the UNThe Global Report on Trafficking in Persons – prepared by the United Nations office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

13. The United NationsProtocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons especially Women and ChildrenArticle 2The purposes of this Protocol are:To prevent and combat trafficking in persons, paying particular attention to women and children;To protect and assist the victims of such trafficking, with full respect for their human rights; andTo promote cooperation among States Parties in order to meet those objectives.