Human Trafficking. How does it affect health and the economy and why is it a global phenomenon?

Essay , 2016 , 6 Pages , Grade: 94

Politics - Topic: Public International Law and Human Rights

This essay provides an overview of why human trafficking is a global phenomenon, and why it has gathered significant attention in the past years. It also reveals the health effects of human trafficking on women and how trafficking affects the various sectors of the economy.

Finally, the paper reveals how human trafficking can be approached, with the intention of curbing its negative effects.

2

fatigue. Europe is not the only region where such findings have been discovered; other

regions have revealed similar results. A case in point is the Republic of Moldova, where

persistent, prevalent, and comorbid psychological effects were discovered in females in post-

trafficking services; the results were revealed by physician-administered diagnostic

interviews conducted in the region (2012, p. 3). Sex trafficking is not the only type of

trafficking that has been associated with health issues, labor trafficking has also been

associated with the same.

The link between labor trafficking and health has been highlighted in numerous

studies. Victims of trafficking, who are usually moved in many forms of labor, are vulnerable

to various occupational health risks, which, in most cases, vary by sector (WHO, 2012, p. 3).

The risks these individuals are usually exposed to include poor sanitation and ventilation,

repetitive motion activities, extended work hours, inadequate training in the use of high-risk

equipment, lack of protective gear, heat/cold extremes, bacterial contaminants, and chemical

hazards. As a consequence, exposure to such dangers results in dehydration, repetitive motor

syndromes, exhaustion, stress, heat stroke, frostbite, hypothermia, respiratory disorders,

accidental injuries, and skin infections (2012). Closely linked to the before-mentioned

assertion is economic exploitation. Since the victims of trafficking have little or no say over

their earnings or what is charged by traffickers for any of the supplies or services they

receive, they may suffer from the psychological effects of debt bondage (2012). Health issues

have also been proven to extend to child trafficking.

Similar to labor trafficking, studies have also revealed that child trafficking is

intricately connected to health concerns for the victims (Rafferty, 2008). To ensure that their

victims lose their physical and psychological defenses, traffickers use methods such as

isolation; psychological, physical, and sexual violence; deployment in foreign regions;

dependence on alcohol and drugs; monitoring work-related activities through the use of

---

3

weapons; and rationing water and food supply (2008, p. 14). Although comprehensive

research on the impact of trafficking on children is insufficient, numerous reports reveal that

the emotional and physical trauma associated with fear and abuse present substantial risks to

the psychological, physical, social-emotional, and spiritual development of these children.

Case studies have revealed that due to persistent social, sexual, and psychological abuse,

victims become emotionally and physically damaged (2008). Also, children who are

trafficked are deprived of their educational and advancement opportunities. Consequently,

they suffer developmental delays, cognitive and language difficulties, deficits in memory and

verbal skills, grade retention, and poor academic performance (2008). Debt bondage,

although subtly, also affects the wellbeing of the victims involved.

Debt bondage is a relatively subtle type of human trafficking; thus, the health effects

associated with it are also not very easily recognizable (SVAW, 2016). Viewed from the

context of moving women, debt bondage arises where traffickers coerce women into

prostitution in a bid to force them to pay their `debt,' which is usually incurred in the process

of recruitment, transportation, or even accommodation. In cases where women are in a

foreign country illegally and cannot speak the local language, traffickers usually use violence

against them, retain their travel documents, or even threaten to harm their families if they do

not agree to the conditions of the traffickers. To ensure their victims remain under their

control, traffickers may continue charging women accommodation fees but fail to apply the

money earned to the services being used by the victim (2016). The subtle nature of debt

bondage makes it difficult to notice; thus, authorities cannot combat the ills associated with

the vice. Since traffickers use methods such obligating their victims to repay the debt that has

been accrued, manipulation of illegal migration, or threats of violence, trafficking is usually

masked since the victims are never forcibly retained or kidnapped (2004).

---

4

In conclusion, human trafficking can be perceived as the process through which

persons are placed or maintained in a particular position for economic gain. Trafficking, as

opposed to popular perception, can occur both within the boundaries of a nation or across the

borders of various nations. Also, trafficking affects all people, children, men, and women.

Therefore, its impact is global. However, in spite of its wide-reaching impacts, trafficking of

humans only gained recognition internationally, as a crime, recently. It was not until the late

1990s that nations began developing legislations to regulate its effects. The before-mentioned

considered, human trafficking and health have a very close connection. All forms of

trafficking, according to numerous studies, have revealed the health effects of the persons

affected by human trafficking. These effects range from psychological, physical, mental, and

even developmental in the younger victims. Thus, to eliminate the burden of this vice, nations

should come together and fight to ensure all persons live in a manner that is humane and just.

---

5

References

Rafferty, Y. (2008). The Impact of Trafficking on Children: Psychological and Social Policy

Perspectives. Child Dev Perspectives, 2(1), 13-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-

8606.2008.00035.x

This journal article delves into the circumstances that children are exposed to during

trafficking. It discusses the psychological, social, and physical health impacts of

trafficking on children. It also discusses how traffickers corrupt the psychological and

physical defense mechanisms in children. The reader gains a comprehensive

understanding of the negative impacts of trafficking on children.

SVAW,. (2016). Debt Bondage and Trafficking in Women. Stop Violence Against Women.

Retrieved 25 May 2016, from

http://www.stopvaw.org/debt_bondage_and_trafficking_in_women

This article offers in-depth insights into dent bondage. Debt bondage is a relatively

subtle form of human trafficking. Thus, understanding its health impacts can be

somewhat perplexing. A clear juxtaposition of the meaning of dent bondage vis-a-vis

its impacts is offered in this article, helping the reader gain insights into the perils of

trafficking.

UNITED NATIONS,. (2014). Human Rights and Human Trafficking, 2. Retrieved from

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FS36_en.pdf

This journal article offers an in-depth analysis of human trafficking. It offers a general

definition of human trafficking, and then proceeds to offer a definition that is accepted

in the international space. The article also discusses why human trafficking violates

human rights.

---

6

WHO,. (2012). Understanding and addressing violence against women: Human Trafficking,

1-8. Retrieved from

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/77394/1/WHO_RHR_12.42_eng.pdf

This article provides an overview of why human trafficking is a global phenomenon,

and why it has gathered significant attention in the past years. It also reveals the

health effects of human trafficking on women and how trafficking affects the various

sectors of the economy. Finally, the paper reveals how human trafficking can be

approached, with the intention of curbing its negative effects.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main topic discussed in this document?

This document focuses on human trafficking and its connection to health issues, including psychological, physical, mental, and developmental effects.

What regions are mentioned in relation to trafficking and its impacts?

The document mentions Europe and the Republic of Moldova as regions where studies have revealed the psychological and health impacts of human trafficking.

What types of trafficking are discussed?

The document discusses sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and child trafficking, highlighting the health issues associated with each.

What are some of the health risks associated with labor trafficking?

Victims of labor trafficking are exposed to various occupational health risks such as poor sanitation, ventilation, repetitive motion activities, extended work hours, lack of training, inadequate protective gear, and exposure to extreme temperatures and hazardous materials. These risks can result in dehydration, repetitive motor syndromes, exhaustion, stress, heat stroke, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, and skin infections.

How does child trafficking impact the health and development of children?

Child trafficking involves methods such as isolation, psychological, physical, and sexual violence, and substance abuse, which undermine their physical and psychological defenses. This results in emotional and physical trauma, impacting psychological, physical, social-emotional, and spiritual development. Victims may also experience developmental delays, cognitive and language difficulties, deficits in memory and verbal skills, grade retention, and poor academic performance.

What is debt bondage, and how is it related to human trafficking?

Debt bondage is a subtle form of human trafficking where victims are coerced into forced labor or prostitution to pay off debts, often incurred during recruitment, transportation, or accommodation. Traffickers may use violence, retain travel documents, or threaten harm to families to control victims.

What are some of the challenges in combating debt bondage?

The subtle nature of debt bondage makes it difficult to notice and combat. Victims are often manipulated through illegal migration or threats of violence, masking the trafficking situation as they are not forcibly retained or kidnapped.

When did human trafficking gain international recognition as a crime?

Human trafficking only gained recognition internationally as a crime in the late 1990s, when nations began developing legislations to regulate its effects.

What is the overall conclusion of the document?

Human trafficking is a process through which people are placed or maintained in a position for economic gain, affecting children, men, and women globally. It is closely linked to various health issues. The document concludes that nations should unite to ensure humane and just treatment for all persons.

What are the references used in this document?

The references include:

• Rafferty, Y. (2008). The Impact of Trafficking on Children: Psychological and Social Policy Perspectives.
• SVAW,. (2016). Debt Bondage and Trafficking in Women. Stop Violence Against Women.
• UNITED NATIONS,. (2014). Human Rights and Human Trafficking, 2.
• WHO,. (2012). Understanding and addressing violence against women: Human Trafficking.

• Course: EH 1020
• Grade: 94
• Author: Selina Kolls (Author)
• Publication Year: 2016
• Pages: 6
• Catalog Number: V337851
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668276000
• ISBN (Book): 9783668276017
• Language: English
• Tags: human, trafficking