Victim-Centered Approach for Detection of Human Trafficking Victims
Introduction
Human trafficking is a global problem . The 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report published by the U . S . Department of State ( U . S . DOS ) documents victims of human trafficking in 188 countries ( U . S . DOS , 2016 ), while the International Labor Organization estimates 21 million victims worldwide in an illicit trafficking economy worth $ 150 billion per year ( International Labor Organization , 2016 ). Vulnerability to human trafficking increases significantly in situations of mass migration , such as the current European migration crisis , because migrants lack legal status , may be socially marginalized , and may be unaware of local languages or laws . This results in individuals becoming more vulnerable to exploitation by others , including smugglers , unscrupulous labor recruiters , and corrupt border officials , on whom they often rely ( U . S . DOS , 2016 ). The European migration crisis is a large-scale problem ; according to the International Organization for Migration ( International Organization for Migration , 2015a ), nearly 1 million migrants entered the European Union in search of safe haven and economic opportunity in 2015 . The migration crisis carries a high risk for exploitation by human traffickers , and effective methods for detecting victims are critically needed . The U . S . government ( U . S . DHS , 2016a ) promotes a victim-centered approach as the most successful means of detecting human trafficking . Although this approach is viewed as an effective way forward , its implementation challenges are exacerbated in the European migration crisis because of complex interactions with strained government resources , anti-immigration sentiment , and the geopolitical significance of migrant flows .
Combating Human Trafficking
The international legal definition of “ trafficking in persons ” is the use of force , fraud , or coercion in the exploitation of individuals in commercial sex or forced labor ( United Nations OCHCR 2016 ). Instances of human trafficking are composed of three elements : the acts ( e . g ., abduction , recruitment , transportation ); the means ( e . g ., violence , threats , deception ); and the purpose ( e . g ., domestic service , prostitution ). Combating human trafficking is a major challenge , even for governments with the political will and adequate capacity . The U . S . Department of Homeland Security describes human trafficking as a hidden crime because victims are often unwilling to self-identify for reasons that include “ language barriers , fear of the traffickers , and / or fear of law enforcement ” ( U . S . DHS 2016b ). Instances of human trafficking may be further obscured by other crimes — such as drug and weapons trafficking , prostitution , and immigration violations — which contribute to the significant challenge of detecting trafficking victims . Consequently , successful victim identification requires authorities to investigate beyond initial crimes , such as illegal immigration and prostitution , and recognize indicators of human trafficking to determine whether the perpetrator is actually a victim .
Combating trafficking is further complicated by the fact that trafficking is often a transnational crime , and jurisdictions within the international system operate under different definitions . For example , the Cuban government defines human trafficking as sex trafficking and does not criminalize forced labor ( U . S . DOS 2016 ). In addition , although the vast majority of governments are committed to combating some form of the crime , some governments perpetrate the crime directly or otherwise facilitate or incentivize trafficking ( U . S .
146