Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Trafficking in human beings, in all its forms, is a serious crime affecting fundamental rights, health, social life, economy, and justice. This study explores human trafficking, which is generally understood to refer to the process through which individuals are placed or maintained in an exploitative situation for economic gain. People are trafficked for a range of purposes, including forced and exploitative labour in factories, farms and private households, sexual exploitation, and forced marriage. Trafficking affects all regions and most countries of the world. This paper relies substantially on secondary methods of data gathering. It is understood that there is no practical collaboration in the international community to fight human trafficking. It was discovered that the poor ravaged countries of the south are mostly affected by this menace of human trafficking, probably as a result of trying to move to the developed north for greener pasture and better life. Again, there is a network of syndicate who specializes in human trafficking, because of serious financial gains. A major step that was taken by the comity of nations under the auspices of the United Nations to address the issue of human trafficking was the adoption of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, supplementing the Convention against trans-national organized crime signed in Palermo Italy in 2000. But unfortunately, many countries in the international system have not domesticated the Palermo Protocol, which will help in the fight against human trafficking by the global community