Difference between revisions of "Defining Human Trafficking"

Human trafficking has often been described as a modern-day form of slavery. [http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octip/docs/action-plan.pdf BC's Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking] defines trafficking as "the recruiting, harbouring and/or controlling of a person for the purpose of exploitation." The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime's [https://www.unodc.org/documents/Global_Report_on_TIP.pdf Global Report on Trafficking in Persons] (2009) states that the most common form of human trafficking (79%) is sexual exploitation. The victims of sexual exploitation are predominantly women and girls. The second most common form of human trafficking is forced labour (18%). Although this may be a misrepresentation because forced labour is less frequently detected and reported than trafficking for sexual exploitation. Human trafficking is a violation of human rights and a serious crime.

In 2000, to fight human trafficking the United Nations adopted an international treaty, known as the [http://www.osce.org/odihr/19223 Protocol to Prevent Trafficking in Persons]. Amongst other things, this document defined human trafficking as Act + Means + Purpose = Human Trafficking.