Human Trafficking - A Form Of Violence Against Women

Abstract

   “Human trafficking is an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the body of Christ. It is a crime against humanity.” — Pope Francis (2020)

   Human trafficking, defined as the illegal trade of humans most commonly for the purposes of sexual slavery and forced labour, currently claims an estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide, and the Global Slavery Index (2023) estimates that 8 million trafficking victims live within India’s borders. Trafficking of women is an ancient enterprise that goes back nearly to the beginnings of civilizations. Female slaves were often highly esteemed in the ancient nations for their use as prostitutes, concubines, or to breed more slaves. Women and girls are mostly trafficked for the purpose of sexual and economic exploitation, particularly prostitution and pornography, forced labour as a domestic worker, arranged marriages or to be ‘sold’ as brides, recruitment for participation in hostilities, and such related purposes as a sexual worker or forced surrogates. Though many NGOs, human rights, and governmental organizations agree that the trafficking of women is a serious violation of their human rights that needs to be earnestly guarded and fought, the complex and considerable operations of human trafficking make prosecution and punishment of traffickers almost not possible in many instances. Most of the women are sold by friends, family, or acquaintances who do not even protest against this exploitation and others may be kidnapped for trafficking. 

Keywords- civilizations, illegal trade,  Human Trafficking  and Violence Against Women.