CHILD TRAFFICKING- The Global Curse

By

Sagar Krishna Maurya

(MPH Scholar, 2018-2020)

Term Paper submitted in the practical examination of

Social and Behavioural Health (PH 103)
In First Semester of Master of Public Health (MPH)

The West Bengal University of Health Sciences

DD – 36, Salt Lake, Sector – 1, Kolkata, West Bengal- 700 064.

This work has been done as part of the two year Master of Public Health (MPH) conducted at

Institute of Public Health, Kalyani

(An Initiative of Health and Family Welfare Department
Of Government of West Bengal)
2nd Floor, Netaji Subhas Sanitorium (TB Hospital) Kalyani, Nadia,
West Bengal - 741251.

January 2019
Abstract

Child trafficking, including commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), is one of the quickest
developing and most rewarding criminal exercises on the planet. The worldwide oppression
of kids influences incalculable quantities of unfortunate casualties who are dealt inside their
nations of origin or transported far from their homes and treated as items to be purchased,
sold, and exchanged for work or sexual exploitation. Everywhere throughout the world,
young ladies are especially liable to be dealt into the sex exchange: Girls and ladies establish
98% of the individuals who are dealt for CSE. Wellbeing and security guidelines in
exploitative settings are commonly amazingly low, and the level of experienced savagery has
been connected with unfriendly physical, mental, and social‐emotional advancement. The
human‐rights‐based way to deal with youngster dealing gives an extensive applied structure
whereby victim‐focused and law requirement reactions can be produced, executed, and
assessed. This term paper gives an overview about the causes of child trafficking, why it is
such a growing industry, how are children brought into the trade and many more. It also gives
an idea regarding the way the problems can be dealt with.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 2

Introduction
“Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 victims are trafficked across international borders
annually, and between 14,500 and 17,500 of those victims are trafficked into the United
States each year. More than half of these victims worldwide are children!"1

Human trafficking is the third largest revenue generating industry on the planet. Child
trafficking is found in both developed and developing countries involving a broad spectrum
of people. Trafficked youngsters are utilized for prostitution, constrained into marriage,
illegally adopted, utilized as shabby or unpaid work, utilized for sports and organ harvesting.
Trafficking opens kids to brutality, misuse, disregard and abuses.

According to UNICEF a child victim of trafficking is "any person under 18 who is recruited,
transported, transferred, harbored or received for the purpose of exploitation, either within or
outside a country" Trafficking is one of the toughest situations to handle, detect and
investigate due to scarcity of data. The most recent figures gauge that 1.2 million kids are
trafficked worldwide consistently.2

While most people are now aware that children and women (and sometimes boys and men)
are trafficked into the world‟s commercial sex trade, children‟s right to be free of
exploitation is violated in many other ways. They may toil in a variety of manufacturing
industries, from large-scale sweatshops to small craft workshops. In some parts of the world,
children are exploited in mining or in fisheries. Girls in particular are trafficked into child
domestic labour. Children are also trafficked into the militia and into armed gangs in conflict
zones and, while this may not strictly be „labour‟, it is nevertheless true that the children are
effectively put to work in these situations, not only as soldiers but in a variety of jobs such as
cooking, acting as couriers and, for girls especially, providing sexual services to adult
combatants. Many children are moved away from their homes and are exploited in the
informal economy, where they are even more difficult to trace and at high risk of many forms
of violence. Criminal networks and individuals exploit children in begging, street hawking,
car window cleaning and other street-based activities. Some children are exploited as drug
couriers or dealers or in petty crime such as pick-pocketing or burglary.

1
Child Victims of Human Trafficking, Department of Health and Human Services, USA and the U.S.
Department of State
2
CHILD Protection & Child Rights » Vulnerable Children » Children's Issues » Child Trafficking, Available
at: http://www.childlineindia.org.in/vulnerable-children.htm (Accessed: 29th November 2018).

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 3

Trafficking as a violation of the rights of the child
All kids ought to enjoy every one of the rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child. Trafficking is a genuine infringement of kids' rights, including explicitly their rights to
be shielded from misuse, to stay with their family, to go to class, to be shielded from sexual
savagery and to have room schedule-wise to play. At the point when kids are trafficked, they
quite often wind up in work that is hazardous to their wellbeing, security and ethics. They are
refrained from education and hence lose the chance to enhance their lives later on. They are
regularly cut off from their families and in danger of sexual maltreatment and different types
of savagery. Aside from the perils that a youngster faces while being trafficked and afterward
being abused, kid trafficking disregards numerous different rights guaranteed to kids in
universal law. Notwithstanding the extraordinary rights ensured to kids, obviously, all kids
ought to likewise enjoy every one of the rights concurred to every single individual. Article 4
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) advises us that "Nobody will be held in
subjection or bondage" and Article 1 is certain that "Every person are brought into the world
free and equivalent in pride and rights". By it‟s exceptional nature, child trafficking
compromises these rights.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 4

How does it occur?
Individuals are selected in a few distinctive routes, for example, through phony work
organizations, associates, daily paper advertisements, front organizations, verbal exchange or
snatching. Traffickers might be neighbors, companions, returnees, and horticultural
administrators, proprietors of private companies, representatives and even families.
Progressively, be that as it may, the traffickers are sorted out wrongdoing syndicates,
regularly in a joint effort with degenerate law implementation elements, government
authorities or managers, who may utilize a few delegates from the main purpose of contact to
the last goal of the person in question. On the off chance that the injured individual is
transported, they utilize both legitimate and illicit methods for transport and different
strategies to keep their unfortunate casualty subjugated.

They may hold them safely secured or in segregation from people in general and from their
relatives or encouraging groups of people, seize their international IDs or distinguishing
proof reports, utilize the danger of viciousness against the subjugated individual or their
families, undermine them with disgrace, dread of detainment or expulsion, and control their
cash.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 5

Prevalance in india
Child trafficking is an issue that is extremely prevalent in India, and is continuing to grow
rapidly. The trafficking of young girls (under the age of 18) has grown 14 times over the last
decade and has grown by 65% just in the year 2014 according to the National Crime Record
Bureau (NCRB).3 There have been numerous reports from many areas about the increase of
trafficking taking place in India. According to the US State Department, there are
approximately 600,000 to 820,000 people trafficked a year across international borders, and
up to 50% of those are children.4 This is definitely seen as a growing issue in Asia, with the
many children that are and continue to be trafficked for many reasons as well as being
exploited. In India specifically, it is estimated that there are around 135,000 children
trafficked each year.

In 2005, a study was conducted by the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC)
after they received an alarming number of reports from the press, police, and non-government
organizations (NGOs) about the rise of human trafficking within India. They found that India
was fast becoming a source, transit point and destination for traffickers of women and
children for sexual and non-sexual purposes. This finding has only increased since being
recognized in 2005, and is becoming a very large problem. Almost 20,000 children and
women were subjected to human trafficking in 2016. This is a nearly a 25% rise from 2015,
which is a large increase for one year to another.5 The areas of the greatest concern were
poverty stricken areas such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa and West Bengal.6 The state within India which has the
most amount of child trafficking is Assam, holding 38% of the nation‟s cases. While the
issue of child trafficking is higher in some specific parts of India, it is a very widespread
problem all over the nation. It is difficult to find exact numbers on the issue of child
trafficking due to the fact that it is illegal, so the process is very secretive. From the
information that is known, there is a very clear increase, not only over the past decade, but
also from year to year. This is extremely concerning and the data seems to point to the
assumption that it will continue to rise.

3 Human Trafficking: Definition, Prevalence, and Causes - City Vision University

4 https://search.proquest.com/pqrl/docview/1797906118/5D7224E0E2754CD8PQ/6?accountid=7418
5
Nita Bhalla (MARCH 9, 2017 / 9:18 PM) Almost 20,000 women and children trafficked in India in 2016,
Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-trafficking/almost-20000-women-and-children-trafficked-
in-india-in-2016-idUSKBN16G29G (Accessed: 29th November 2018).
6
India hub of child trafficking in South Asia, Available at: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/india-hub-of-
child-trafficking-in-south-asia_556545.html (Accessed: 29th November 2018).

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 6

The numbers7
In 2012 the (UNODC) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports the percentage of
child victims had risen in a 3 year span from 20 per cent to 27 per cent.

Of every three child victims, two are girls and one is a boy. Gender and age profile of victims
detected globally: 59% Women - 14% Men - 17% Girls and 10% were Boys.

 600,000 to 800,000 women, children and men bought and sold across international
borders every year and exploited for forced labor or commercial sex (U.S.
Government)

 When internal trafficking victims are added to the estimates, the number of victims
annually is in the range of 2 to 4 million

 50% of those victims are estimated to be children

 It is estimated that 76 percent of transactions for sex with underage girls start on the
Internet

 2 million children are subjected to prostitution in the global commercial sex trade
(UNICEF)

 There are 20.9 Million victims of Trafficking World wide as of 2012

7
(Monday, 31 July 2017 03:37) Child trafficking Statistics, Available at: https://arkofhopeforchildren.org/child-
trafficking/child-trafficking-statistics (Accessed: 29th November 2018).

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 7

Sources of trafficked children
Child trafficking, regardless of whether for work, sex or organ trafficking, originate from all
foundations incorporating both boys and girls. Age of these trafficked children ranges from 1
to 18 years.

Youngsters are trafficked out of, or into India from all parts of the country and speak to a
wide range of races, ethnic gatherings and religions. Dominant part of the trafficking is inside
the nation however there are likewise an expansive number trafficked from Nepal and
Bangladesh. Youngsters are trafficked to Middle Eastern nations for game, for example,
camel racing. There are no national or territorial evaluations for the quantity of youngsters
trafficked each year.

NGOs gauge that 12,000 - 50,000 ladies and kids are trafficked into the nation every year
from neighboring states for the sex trade. A large number of young ladies are trafficked from
Bangladesh and Nepal. 200,000 Nepalese young ladies under 16 years are in prostitution in
India. An expected 1,000 to 1,500 Indian kids are carried out of the nation consistently to
Saudi Arabia for asking amid the Hajj.8

Trafficked kids can be tricked to other places through the guarantee of school or work and
guaranteed the chance to send cash back to their families. Youngsters are additionally
helpless against criminals, pimps, and expert agents. A few youngsters are even sold to
traffickers by their families, who could possibly have a comprehension of what will happen
to the child.

8
Global March against Child Labour, 2005. Worst Forms of Child Labour Report. As retrieved on 23/08/2010
from http://globalmarch.org

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 8

Causes behind trafficking
The root causes behind trafficking varies across places of occurrence from countries to
countries or state to state. These causes are again driven or influenced by certain factors some
of them being: social, economic, cultural and other factors. As for example let‟s say the
desire of potential victims to migrate in search of better life opportunities are often exploited
by offenders to recruit and gain initial control or cooperation, only to be replaced by more
coercive measures once the victims have been moved to another State or region of the
country, which may not always be the one to which they had intended to migrate.

The factors driving trafficking can grossly be divided under two broad headings:
 
 PULL FACTORS
 
 Migration
 
 Hope for jobs/ marriage
 
 Demand for cheap labor
 
 Lack of awareness
 
 Creation of need by sex traffickers
 
 Organized crimes
 
 Begging
 
Internet pornography etc.

 
 PUSH FACTORS
 
 Poverty
 
 Feticide/ infanticide
 
 Child marriage
 
 Natural disasters
 
 Domestic violence
 
 Unemployment
 
 Lure of job/ marriage/ love
 
Traditional/ religious prostitution etc.

Added to these factors are the issues of porous borders, corrupt Government officials, the
involvement of international organized criminal groups or networks and limited capacity of
or commitment by immigration and law enforcement officers to control borders. Lack of
adequate legislation and of political will and commitment to enforce existing legislation or
mandates are other factors that facilitate trafficking in persons.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 9

Types of trafficking:
The most common forms of work or places where the trafficked children are involved include
the following:
 
 Forced labor
 
 Sexual exploitation
 
 Children in armed forces
 
 Children in drug trades
 
Organ harvesting etc.

Apart from the above mentioned topics there are other types of exploitations as faced by the
trafficked children. Let us have a look at the major fields of exploitations:
Forced Labor
Not included in the International Labor Organization‟s (ILO) definition – or their estimate of
20.9 million people trapped in forced labor – are cases of trafficking for organ removal,
forced or child marriages and forced adoptions9.

Forced labor is the type of enslavement used across the world to produce many products in
our global supply chains. The fishing, textile, construction, mineral and agriculture industries
are particularly laced with forced laborers. The private economy – businesses and individuals
seeking to create a profit – exploits 90% of the world‟s forced laborers, meaning that the
desire to produce a profit is the largest motivating force behind the institution of slavery.

Many state and rebel governments also practice forced labor, with at least 2.2 million people
worldwide in state-imposed forms of forced labor. When public governments exploit
individuals‟ bodies for their own gain, it‟s a form of enslavement. It occurs in state prisons,
in convict leasing programs and in work imposed by military or rebel armed forces.

Sexual Exploitation10
Many people are involved in the act of child sexual exploitation. It takes quite a few people
to run a brothel and procure the children. Four parties are identified as being involved in a
transaction in the child sex market: the perpetrator, the vendor, the facilitator, and the child.
Perpetrators are those who partake in sex tourism and trafficking. The perpetrators are most

9
End Slavery Now () Forced Labor, Available at: http://www.endslaverynow.org/learn/slavery-today/forced-
labor (Accessed: 29th November 2018).
10
Willis B, Levy B. Child prostitution: Global health burden, research needs, and interventions. Lancet 2002;
359:1417-22.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 10

often men who try to “rationalize their sexual involvement with children.11" The vendors are
the procurers and pimps of the children. Under their reign, profit is maximized and trafficking
itself is made possible. The facilitators are those who allow for child sex trafficking to occur.
Parents who sell their daughters to vendors fall into this category. The child is the most
essential figure in this process. The term child, however, poses problems. Due to varying
definitions across the globe it is difficult to differentiate between sexual abuse of a child and
child prostitution. Also, every country and culture has its own way of determining when a
child is no longer considered a minor.

Children in armed forces

In many conflicts children take direct part in combat. However, their role is not limited to
fighting. Many girls and boys are also used in support functions that also entail great risk and
hardship.

Their tasks can vary, from combatants to cooks, spies, messengers and even sex slaves.
Moreover, the use of children for acts of terror, including as suicide bombers, has emerged as
a phenomenon of modern warfare. No matter their role, child soldiers are exposed to acute
levels of violence – as witnesses, direct victims and as forced participants. Some are injured
and have to live with disabilities for the rest of their lives.

Girls are also recruited and used by armed forces and groups. They have vulnerabilities
unique to their gender and place in society and suffer specific consequences including, but
not limited to, rape and sexual violence, pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications,
stigma and rejection by families and communities.

In 2014, with UNICEF, the Special Representative launched the campaign “Children, Not
Soldiers”12 to bring about a global consensus that child soldiers should not be used in
conflict. The campaign was designed to generate momentum, political will and international
support to turn the page once and for all on the recruitment of children by national security
forces in conflict situations.

11
Herrmann, Kenneth J., and Michael Jupp. "International Child Sex Trade." The Sexual Trafficking in
Children: An Investigation of the Child Sex Trade. By Daniel S. Campagna and Donald L. Poffenberger. Dover,
MA: Auburn House Pub., 1988. 140-57. Print.
12
End Slavery Now () Child Recruitment and Use, Available at: https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/six-
grave-violations/child-soldiers/ (Accessed: 29th November 2018).

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 11

Consequences of trafficking for victims
Most common health related issues in trafficked person can be enlisted as:

Infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis, Skin infections such as scabies, lice,
bacterial and fungal,  Parasitism such as malaria, other blood-borne and
 gastrointestinal infections

Non-infectious diseases- This category includes urgent, non-urgent and chronic
problems like Insomnia and sensory deficits, Acute trauma or sequelae of trauma such
as cuts, burns and other musculoskeletal problems, Effects of substance abuse and

Other chronic active health problems (e.g. asthma, diabetes).
 
 Reproductive health- Pregnancy, abortion and abortion sequale
 
 Mental health problems
 
 Substance abuse
 
Violence

Health risks of trafficked in person (TIP):

The most common physical health symptoms reported by women at 0-14 days post rescue in
Europe13:
 
 81% headaches
 
 71% dizzy spells
 
 69% back pain
 
 60-70% various sexual health problems
 
 63% memory problems
 
82% fatigue

Urgent Healthcare Needs

These needs may be present at time of survivor‟s escape or rescue. Needs are dependent on
the survivor‟s most recent environment and time since leaving exploitative situation14
 
 Common Urgent Problems
 
 Malnutrition
 
 Dehydration
 
Chemical exposures

13
Zimmerman C, Hossain M, Yun K, et al. The health of trafficked women: A survey of women entering post-
trafficking services in Europe. Am J Public Health. 2008;98:55–9. 10. Lederer, L., Wet
14
Zimmerman C. Stolen Smiles: A summary report on the physical and psychological health consequences of
women and adolescents trafficked in Europe. London School of Health & Tropical Medicine; International
Organization for Migration. 2006.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 12

  
 Traumatic injuries
 
 Respiratory problems
 
 Assess mental health status for acute and/or violent manifestation
 
 Anxiety
 
 Post-traumatic stress disorder
 
 Hostility
 
 Depression
 
Suicidal ideation

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 13

Public health and human trafficking
 
 “The business of public health is to take what is accepted and make it unacceptable.”
– Bill Foege, former director of the CDC


As with other global public health issues, social and cultural factors contribute to the
problem  as well as the solutions (HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation, under-
nutrition)


Estimating the number affected is important in public health, but problematic in
trafficking situations – Trafficked people and survivors are hidden – Different

 countries have different definitions – Need to not make best guesses based on
 “similar” populations.
 
 Health, Prevention and Research

We must understand what factors puts victims at risk– Social – Cultural –
 Economic – Immigration status – Language barriers

 Identify 
at-risk populations so prevention messages can be developed and
targeted
 
 Identify methods and routes used by traffickers

  protocols for interviewing and forensic data
Safe, acceptable, reliable
collection are lacking
 
Long-term studies with follow up for evaluation and monitoring

The Gap in Healthcare and TIP

Currently there is paucity of healthcare involvement and research addressing health needs of
trafficked persons globally. Lack of recognition by healthcare and counter-trafficking
communities that TIP is a healthcare issue is one of the major reasons creating a wide gap in
this aspect. The difficulties and complexities of doing health research contribute to the gap
(duration, cost, lack of professionals, and access to victims) problem does not lie with lack of
professionals wanting to get involved, but lack of organized and funded efforts. Other factors
widening this gap include complex social and legal situation; issues of autonomy; what and
where healthcare may take place; cross-disciplinary cooperation often complicated. Also,

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 14

providing healthcare is difficult for many relief organizations because of cost, need for long-
term commitment, and lack of locally available quality care15.

Importance of Healthcare in TIP

Recognize trafficking as a health issue is the first major step in perspective of public health
approach. Trafficking harms women in insidious ways, creating “messy” health problems.
The physical and mental health consequences are a central theme of trafficking, not a side
effect. Timely healthcare is central to restoring the well-being of the trafficking survivor

15
Lederer, L., Wetzel, C. (2014) The Health Consequences of Health Trafficking and their implications for
Identifying victims in health care facilities. Annals of Health Care Law. 23: 61-90.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 15

Combating trafficking16:
Recommended preventive action at the national level
The Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings received by OSCE contains various
measures suggested for reception at the national dimension with the end goal to avert
trafficking in individuals. They consist of:
 
 Measures relating to data collection and research
 
 Border measures


 Economic andsocial policies aimed at addressing the root causes of trafficking in
human beings
 
 Awareness-raising measures; and
 
Legislative measures.

The following economic and social policies are recommended:

 
 In countries of origin:

Considering as need the cultivating of social, monetary and political
dependability and the decrease both of movement  caused by profound
 neediness and of supply components of trafficking.

goals should also promote both economic
Policies followed in pursuit of these
 development and social inclusion.

Improving children‟s access to educational and vocational opportunities and
increasing
 the level of school attendance, in particular by girls and minority
 groups.

 business opportunities
Enhancing job opportunities for women by facilitating
 for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

  SME training courses and targeting them in particular at high-risk
Organizing
groups.
 
 In countries of destination:
 
 Implementing measures to reduce “the invisibility of exploitation”.


A multi-agency programme of monitoring, administrative controls and
intelligence gathering on the labour markets and, where applicable, on the sex
industry, will contribute greatly to this objective.

16
(n.d.) 'ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES', in (ed.) Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons. : , pp. 454-
456.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 16

 
Considering the liberalization by Governments of their labour markets with a
view to increasing
 employment opportunities for workers with a wide range of
 skills levels.

Addressing the problem of unprotected, informal and often illegal labour, with
a view to seeking a balance betweenthe demand for inexpensive labour and
 the possibilities of regular migration.


Tackling underground economic activities that undermine economies and
enhance trafficking.
 
 In both countries of origin and countries of destination:

Taking measures to  raise levels of social protection and to create employment
 opportunities for all

Taking appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the
field of employment in order to ensure, on a basis of gender equality, the right
to equal pay for equal work and the right to equality in employment

opportunities
 
 Addressing all forms of discrimination against minorities

Developing programmes that offer livelihood options and include basic
education, literacy,
 communication and other skills, and reduce barriers to
 entrepreneurship.

Encouraging gender sensitization and education on equal and respectful 
 relationships between the sexes, thus preventing violence against women

 equal access to and
Ensuring that policies are in place that allow women
 control over economic and financial resources

 Promoting flexible financing and access to credit, including microcredit at low
interest
 
 Promoting good governance and transparency in economic transactions

Adopting or strengthening legislative, educational, social, cultural or other
measures and, where applicable, penal legislation, including through bilateral
and multilateral cooperation, to discourage the demand that fosters all forms
of exploitation of persons, especially women and children, and that leads to

trafficking.

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 17

Conclusion
Human trafficking is the third largest economy of the world. It is really difficult to curb down
the incidences of trafficking without a universal joint approach to this global problem. Still, a
lot needs to be done. Practically speaking as the data suggests it is an ever growing industry
and the involvement of people from highest to the lowest social status in the economy for
want of profit, would really make it further harder to be controlled.

We being Public Health experts have very limited contribution in this aspect in curbing down
this global burden. What we can do is make the life of these people better in respect of their
health in mental, physical and emotional sphere through our scope of work. Health
professionals and organizations, above direct patient care, need to be involved in prevention,
research, monitoring, developing treatment guidelines and evaluation. Health care
professionals need to understand the principles and application of trauma informed care.
Overall there is need for funding, organizational support and political will to make a major
global difference.

“The healthcare community must become more engaged in increasing the recognition of
trafficked women and girls in healthcare settings, in provision of appropriate services, and in
helping shape public policy to address what is one of the most disturbing health issues of our
time.” 17

– Chris Beyrer

17
Beyrer C. Is Human Trafficking A Health Issue? Lancet. 2004;363:564

Sagar Krishna Maurya, MPH Scholar, 2018-2020 Page 18