Difference between revisions of "Understanding Human Trafficking"

Anti-trafficking advocates argue that human trafficking exists because there is a demand for cheap goods, cheap labour, and the provision of sexual services. “Push factors” include poverty, gender inequality, lack of opportunity and education, political unrest, and unemployment.“Pull factors” include globalization of the economy, the demand for cheap goods and services, and new communications technologies. Trafficking in human beings is not new. Slavery, servitude, forced labour and other similar practices have existed for thousands of years. In the last two decades however, changing conditions around the world have led to a global increase in human trafficking, mainly of women and girls.

Perpetrators of trafficking can take many forms. They may operate independently, with a small network, or be part of a large, transnational, organized crime network moving people over long distances.