Human Trafficking

Millions of men, women and children around the world are

currently victims of human trafficking - bought and sold as commodities into
prostitution and forced labour.
Trafficking involves transporting people away from the
communities in which they live and forcing them to work against their will using
violence, deception or coercion .Human trafficking is the second largest
international criminal industry in the world and it is the fastest growing. Between
600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked internationally every year.
Bonded labor, or debt bondage, is probably the least known form of
labor trafficking today, and yet it is the most widely used method of enslaving
people. Victims become "bonded" when their labor, the labor they themselves
hired and the tangible goods they bought are demanded as a means of repayment
for a loan or service in which its terms and conditions have not been defined or in
which the value of the victims' services is not applied toward the liquidation of the
debt. Generally, the value of their work is greater than the original sum of money
"borrowed."
Forced labor is a situation in which victims are forced to work against
their own will under the threat of violence or some other form of punishment; their
freedom is restricted and a degree of ownership is exerted. Men are at risk of
being trafficked for unskilled work, which globally generates 31 billion USD

according to the International Labor Organization.[20] Forms of forced labor can

include domestic servitude, agricultural labor, sweatshop factory labor, janitorial,
food service and other service industry labor, and begging. Some of the products
that can be produced by forced labor are: clothing, cocoa, bricks, coffee, cotton,
and gold.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the single largest
global provider of services to victims of trafficking, reports receiving an increasing
number of cases in which victims were subjected to forced labour. A 2012 study
observes that " 2010 was particularly notable as the first year in which IOM
assisted more victims of labour trafficking than those who had been trafficked for
purposes of sexual exploitation."
Child labour is a form of work that may be hazardous to the
physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development of children and can
interfere with their education. According to the International Labor Organization,
the global number of children involved in child labour has fallen during the past
decade it has declined by one third, from 246 million in 2000 to 168 million
children in 2012. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest incidence of
child labour, while the largest numbers of child-workers are found in Asia and the
Pacific.
Forced marriage is a marriage where one or both participants are
married without their freely given consent . Servile marriage is defined as a
marriage involving a person being sold, transferred or inherited into that
marriage. According to ECPAT, "Child trafficking for forced marriage is simply
another manifestation of trafficking and is not restricted to particular nationalities
or countries".
A forced marriage qualifies as a form of human trafficking in certain
situations. If a woman is sent abroad, forced into the marriage and then
repeatedly compelled to engage in sexual conduct with her new husband, then
her experience is that of sex trafficking. If the bride is treated as a domestic
servant by her new husband and/or his family, then this is a form of labor
trafficking.

Trafficking in organs is a form of human trafficking. It can take

different forms. In some cases, the victim is compelled into giving up an organ. In
other cases, the victim agrees to sell an organ in exchange of money/goods, but is
not paid (or paid less). Finally, the victim may have the organ removed without
the victim's knowledge (usually when the victim is treated for another medical
problem/illness real or orchestrated problem/illness). Migrant workers, homeless
persons, and illiterate persons are particularly vulnerable to this form of
exploitation. Trafficking of organs is an organized crime, involving several
offenders:

the
the
the
the
the

recruiter
transporter
medical staff
middlemen/contractors
buyers

Trafficking for organ trade often seeks kidneys. Trafficking in organs is a

lucrative trade because in many countries the waiting lists for patients who need
transplants are very long.
While human trafficking spans all demographics, there are some
circumstances or vulnerabilities that lead to a higher susceptibility to victimization
and human trafficking. Runaway and homeless youth, as well as victims of
domestic violence, sexual assault, war or conflict, or social discrimination are
frequently targeted by traffickers. Foreign nationals who have paid significant
recruitment and travel fees often become highly indebted to traffickers or other
intermediaries. Traffickers control and manipulate these individuals by leveraging
the non-portability of many work visas as well as the victims lack of familiarity
with surroundings, laws and rights, language fluency, and cultural understanding.
Victims face many challenges in accessing help. Their traffickers may
confiscate their identification documents and money. They may not speak English.
They may not know where they are, because they have been moved frequently.
They are often not allowed to communicate with family or friends. And they may
have trouble trusting others, due to their traffickers manipulation and control
tactics.

As an European country and a new EU member, Romania has to prove

its ability to face these challenges. Notoriously known as a country of recruitment
and transit, Romania also has become a country of destination for victims of
human trafficking. The law, particularly criminal law, is just one of the instruments
that can ensure success in fighting human trafficking. A viable legal system that
can respond to human trafficking in particular and to criminality in general has to
be based on human rights protection and prompt sanctions for the infringement of
human rights. Thus, from a legal perspective, the methods used have to treat the
causes of human trafficking and not solely its effects. The legal solutions have to
be sustained by social and economic decisions meant to ensure a decent and
better way of life worldwide
. Groups like Amnesty International have been critical of insufficient or
ineffective government measures to tackle human trafficking. Criticism includes a
lack of understanding of human trafficking issues, poor identification of victims
and a lack of resources for the key pillars of anti-trafficking identification,
protection, prosecution and prevention. For example, Amnesty International has
called the UK government's new anti-trafficking measures as 'not fit for purpose'.
As an organization of business and professional women working to
improve the lives of women and girls and local communities throughout the world,
Soroptimist undertakes a number of projects that directly and indirectly help
potential trafficking victims. In late 2007, the organization launched a major
campaign aimed at raising awareness about the devastating practice of sex
trafficking. Soroptimist club members place the cards about sex trafficking in
highly visible locations including police stations, women's centers, hospitals, legal
aid societies, etc. In addition, the organization is calling on the public to do its part
to end this heinous practice.
Soroptimist undertakes a number of other projects that directly and
indirectly help victims and potential victims. These projects provide direct aid to
women and girlsgiving women economic tools and skills to achieve financial
empowerment and independence: