Introduction

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Human trafficking affects men, women and children in their deepest being. From recruitment to exploitation, trafficked persons lose their identity and desperately struggle against a situation that reduces them into slavery.


What does trafficking in persons mean?

Three main elements are at the core of the definition of human trafficking:

1) The actual act of trafficking, including the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons;

2) Associated acts such as the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a position of weakness or vulnerability, committed without the free and full consent of the trafficked person;

3) Exploitation , including at a minimum the exploitation of the prostitution of others (or other forms of sexual exploitation), forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

It is important to note that if one of the above-mentioned acts has been committed, the victim's consent is irrelevant.


Key figures

  • At any point in time, approximately 2.5 million persons are victims of trafficking, at least one third of whom are trafficked for economic purposes other than sexual exploitation
  • The estimated annual profits generated by trafficking in forced labourers:

     

    Profits per forced labourer in commercial sexual exploitation

    Profits per labourer in other forms of economic exploitation

    Total profits

    (million US $)

    Industrialized countries

    67 200

    30 154

    15 513

    Transition countries

    23 500

    2 353

    3 422

    Asia

    10 000

    412

    9 704

    Latin America

    18 200

    3 570

    1 348

    Sub-Saharan Africa

    10 000

    360

    159

    Middle East

    45 000

    2 340

    1 508

    World

    31 654


    (Source: 2005 ILO Report An Alliance Against Forced Labor )

Resources

 

How can I help?

  • If you live in a country that is a member of the Council of Europe, check whether your government has signed or ratified the Council's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings , and then join our partner Anti-Slavery International's campaign
  • Check if your country has signed or ratified the Palermo Protocol, and if not, write a letter to your authorities to do so.
  • Use Franciscans International's Prayer Card for the victims of human trafficking for your personal meditation or jointly with other members of your community
  • Inform us of cases of trafficking you become aware of. Contact us for a questionnaire, to help document these cases.

 

FI Publications

2004 Handbook on Human Trafficking