THE INTERSECTION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MIGRATION: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
Author: Abigail Luwaya
Title: “The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Migration: Challenges and Solutions”
Summary: Exploring how migration patterns influence human trafficking and what can be done to protect vulnerable populations.
INTRODUCTION
Migration and human trafficking are two terms that describe an interconnection especially that migrants are targeted by traffickers.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in a publication issued on 5th July, 2019. Migration is defined as an understanding of a person who moves away from his or her place of usual residence, whether within a country or across an international border, temporarily or permanently, and for a variety of reasons (https://www.iom.int about migration).
Migration can be regular or irregular, a regular migrant is one who travels in an orderly, recognized and organized manner, while irregular migrants are those whose migration violates the immigration laws or are undocumented.
Human trafficking is simply the trade of human for the purpose of exploitation. It is a crime where a trafficker exploits people or a person for their personal gain. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transferring, transportation, harboring or receipt of people through force, coercion, fraud, deception for the purpose of exploitation. Any person in society can be a victim of human trafficking regardless of their age, race, background and gender. https://www.unodc.org>unodc human trafficking.
HOW MIGRATION INFLUENCES HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE CHALLENGES
Migration, particularly when driven by conflict, poverty, or environmental crisis, forces people to seek safer lives across borders into other countries.
This situation forces many migrants especially those without documentation into extreme exploitation, coerced labor, or even sexual trafficking for both male and female. Migrants are more vulnerable to exploitation when states and societies are unable to protect them. Additionally, some of the factors that may lead migrants to be victims of human trafficking are:
Smuggling arrangements – Smuggled migrants may be recruited by the smugglers who take advantage of their desire to escape poverty or conflicts in their countries of origin. This can therefore lead to trafficking, which can victimize and violate the human rights of that migrant.
Language barrier – migrants who do not know the language of their destination country may have challenges navigating society. Similarly with culture and customs, it is observed that migrants who are not familiar with culture and customs are manipulated to believe that they would be in trouble if they seek help and this eventually leads to exploitation. [IOM.Report 2019 p.40]
Labor migration or migrant workers – these are at high risk of forced labor, they are often subjected to abuse and exploitation as they are unable to raise grievances with their employers especially if they are undocumented for the fear of being deported, detained or even loose there source of income. Labor migration is defined as the movement of persons from their home state to another state for the purpose of employment.
SOLUTIONS
To address these issues, there is need for a multi-sectorial approach by both the government and private parties. Governments and international bodies must create safer migration pathways that will enable migrants to easily access legal support and basic services upon arrival.
In the same vein, public awareness campaigns, both locally and internationally, should be enhanced in order to educate migrants on recognizing trafficking risks. This can be coupled with stronger international cooperation which is vital for tracking networks across borders and ensuring offenders face justice. There is also need to promote mechanisms of social, labor and cultural integration of migrants in the destination countries.
CONCLUSION
Society will be a better place for migrants, and trafficking risks migrants face will be reduced by strengthening migration systems and protections. Let us not relent in fostering a safer world for those seeking new opportunities.
REFERENCES
International Organization for Migration. 5th July, 2019.
https://www.iom.int about migration
https://www.unodc.org unodc human trafficking
https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/migrants_and_their_vulnerability.pdf