Human Trafficking in Africa Essay

man trafficking is non a new phenomenon. It has historically taken different forms but perpetually new dimensions. Human trafficking is a complicated phenomenon that is multi-faceted and which involves several stakeholders both(prenominal) at the institutional as fountainhead as mercantile level. Research reveals that up to 900 000 mickle ar trafficked e very(prenominal)(prenominal) year around the universe (Adepoju 2005). Human trafficking is enumerated as third in terms of the biggest profit earners (at ab let out $7 billion) after drugs and armaments for intertheme organised offence.It is raise forth as a global business enterprise that is solicit driven be bugger off of the huge commercialize for commercial sex and cheap trade union movement that ar tackled by policy frameworks that ar either insufficient or unexercised. The issuance of trained province to prevent this misdeed is similarly insufficient. Traffickers understand that composition they push aside fudge profit only erstwhile on drugs, the same person rump be sold everyplacet and over again earning them infinite profit. Studies overly arrangement that the primary victims of benignante trafficking ar women and children (Adepoju et al. , 2008). jibe to Hagen (2004), these victims be primarily sold into pressure marriage, sexual slavery or heterogeneous forms of debt bondage and squeeze parturiency. Adepoju (2005) explains that pauperization is the mainstay driving force for the supply of macrocosm for trafficking. Other forces admit poor fostering standards as hearty as deficiency of job that make people unsafe to traffickers (Adepoju 2005). The humans trafficking industry which is responding to the escalating demands for cheap and manipulable labour as well as an increasingly expanding sex industry that has been globalised assures a ready supply to meet that demand (Altman 2003). agree to statistics, developing and third constituteence countrie s much(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) as those in Asia and Africa ar much pr adept and only(a) to human trafficking and in fact enshroud highest incidences of this iniquity (Coday 2003). The rate of human trafficking is said to be escalating in Africa as years pass by. south, due west and Central Africa report the highest incidences of human trafficking. fight torn aras in other regions such as eastern Africa argon as well describe to experience higher evaluate of child trafficking (Sita 2003). Factors that Contribute to Human Trafficking in AfricaPoverty has been cited as the primary get down of human trafficking in the world. In Africa, it is worsened as nearly people bl supplant in in pauperism. Poverty as a result of un job, poor education and fight increases the pic of world to the deceptions of human traffickers. harmonize to (Fitzgibbon (2003), human traffickers target poor people with promises of part job opportunities and employment in the places they b ar going to. Destitute families who argon not able to provide strengthenr to their children be in fact most susceptible to traffickers persuasion to sell them or hire them out (Mo cardinaly, Knox & Schacht 2008).Girls, who atomic number 18 comprehend to be the fainthearteder gender in Africa argon the most susceptible to commercial exploitation. Because of the discouragement and desire to end their situations, poor people ar slowly convinced by traffickers either with deception of founder jobs or convincing of families to sell out their children for a certain amount of cash (Fitzgibbon 2003). Poverty contributes largest to multi matter trafficking as defenceless persons argon promised of great things in europiuman and Asian ( curiously the sum East) countries.Gender contrariety is in any case widespread in Africa and is one of the factors contributing to the high rates of human trafficking in the region. It denies women of their rights fashioning them defenceless against such vices (Truong 2006). Gender disagreement is too characterised by attitudes that perceive women and girls to be inferior and atonic load-bearing(a) their objectification (Masika 2002). This objectification and tolerance of violence against women as a result of gender discrimination support the existence and continued trafficking practices that furnish women and girls into in atrocious working conditions (Truong 2006)Africa likewise happens to be one of the most abnormal regions by the set up of HIV aid and in particular orphanage. AIDS has been place as one of the factors that contribute to the escalating human trafficking in Africa mainly because of family disintegration it causes through death (Kristof 2000). Millions of African children soak up been deprive by AIDS and left to become in poverty, fending for themselves with no one to date after them. such(prenominal) children are very vulnerable to traffickers who deceive them with promises of better lives.In their innocence and desperation, orphaned children end up being victims of human trafficking trade (Beeks & emir 2006). infant whoredom and normal prostitution as a result of poverty and orphanage is also prevalent in Africa (OConnell & Sanchez 1996) much(prenominal) women are more prostrate to emotional intimidation which makes them vulnerable and easily moved into the hands of traffickers (Kristof 2000). Such individuals are often trafficked for sexual exploitation abroad. fortify affairs are also very commonality in most African countries.In addition to destroying livelihoods, arm conflicts destroy national economies and bring about mass community movements. The heightened insecurity during wars makes women and children more vulnerable and promotes outstanding survival tactics including prostitution (Martens et al. , 2003). During these tomes, women and children are often abducted into armed factions where children are apply as armed soldiers and the women are sexually exploited (usually raped) (DeStefano 2007).These conflicts increase the number of orphans and widows. oneness of the endemic characteristics of armed conflicts is intensified poverty for survivors, particularly orphans, widows and those families that are headed by egg-producing(prenominal)s. This increases the vulner index of these groups to traffickers. Migration of people as a repartee to insecurity and armed conflict results existence of large refugee populations which expose the most vulnerable groups (Hollenbach 2008).African countries engender also remained heedless and pretermit domesticated commitment to security measures of those vulnerable to trafficking through awareness, jurisprudence, information and prepare of the responsible authorities to provide the rampart (Sita 2003). nigh laws on human trafficking are lenient. Penalties for those found guilty of trafficking humans are not severe. In about countries such as Kenya, the maximum se ntence one gets if found guilty of child trafficking is 15 years and sometimes these offenders are set free because of corruption that manifests itself in the region.It should be noted that human trafficking is a very lucrative business with estimated annual dough of up to $ 10 billion (Adepoju 2005). Such individuals get away freely in countries with corrupt brasss which most in Africa unfortunately are. Most African countries confirm weak state structures which are as a result of the turmoil of transitional economies (Hart, 2009). Such structures encourage an environment that favours predatory nefarious groups/organisations. Such economies are usually dominated by parallel structures that thrive through intimidation and fear which replace state security (Ciment & Shanty 2008).The fact that these networks are widespread and the perception that they have the ability to get even with victims and their families strengthens their underground temper making investigation difficult because of lack of evidence. Purpose of Human Trafficking People are trafficking for various purposes. Sexual exploitation is one of the main reasons as to why women and female children are trafficked. Other purposes include underpaid and exploitive forced labour in the manufacturing, agricultural, wind and mining industries (Adepoju 2005).Exploitative domestic labour is another(prenominal) reason. It has also been established that children and particularly infants are trafficked for organ pull together. Strategies used though the profiles of victims and traffickers vary, the tactics used to deceive, recruit, transport and later on exploit the trafficked persons are similar. Victims are more often than not tempted (promised) plausible promises of income, employment and educational opportunities, and sometimes shelter or premeditation deep down adoptive families in the countries they are being transported to (Marta 2008).Traffickers exploit income and fortune disparities, pov erty and effects of armed conflicts within the region. Case Studies randomness Africa has been identified as one of the African countries where human trafficking particularly of women and children is most common (Sita 2003). The outlandish is argued to have a large market for the work of trafficked people both from regional as well as extra-regional locations (Cross & Gelderblom 2006).Armed conflict and related dislocation, food insecurity, political and economical turmoil, poor education and lack of employment opportunities, as well as the betrothal of affliction of the AIDS pestilence make the pastoral a magnet that attracts human migration from all over the continent. Organised crime groups, refugee populations and local traffickers exploit this vulnerable population for agricultural and industrial labour, organ harvesting and sex industry (UNEP 2007). due south Africa acts as a transit as well as source country for internationalist market in human trafficking.As a transi t hub, in the south Africa happens to extend direct flights to Asia and Europe. The escalating proceeds of human trafficking from Africa to the Middle East and Europe implies that southeastward Africa on with other several African countries are already feeding multinational business. It has also been established that internal trafficking also does exist within the continent and the country (Pommerin 2009). According to a study conducted by IOM report (2003), nine distinct patterns of human trafficking have been identified in South Africa.They include trafficking of women from countries that produce refugees to South Africa (SA), children from Lesotho to Eastern chuck up the sponge State of SA, women and girls from Mozambique to brothels in Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng, women from Malawi to SA itself overland and through it to blue Europe, children (both girls and boys) from Malawi through SA to Northern Europe, women from China, Thailand and Eastern Europe to SA. There are cert ain factors that contribute to human trafficking in South Africa.According to reports, about 245, 000 children are being exploited for labour including commercial sex (prostitution) making them exposed and vulnerable to exploitation and deception of human traffickers. It is approximated that South Africa has at least 30, 000 children working as prostitutes. Once involved in such an environment, children are easily emotionally fright and physically pushed and trapped into trafficking. South Africa also happens to be the regional powerhouse, with a gross domestic product that is almost four times greater than most its neighbours and representing approximately 25% of the correct continents GDP.The country is aenjoying a relatively constant economic growth making it an attractive savoir-faire for those seek greener pastures in the region. Traditional migration patterns of labour from the neighbouring countries, the manipulation of children being sent to their relatives who are bett er situated in the country by their relatives to be raised and unregulated muff call up regulations due to casual border procedures enhance human trafficking (Richards 2004). The capacity of South Africas security forces is also challenged by the expensive sea state borders (Pommerin 2009).Unemployment has also increased in the country as a result of retrenchment of migrant labourers from South Africas farms and mines in the young past. This has increased poverty and desperation making the populations vulnerable to traffickers deception. Despite the countrys overall economic growth, poverty hush up is high in both pastoral and urban areas particularly amongst women and children and is the primary cause of trafficking of these groups. Influx of refugees is one of the practical effects of armed conflict in South Africas neighbouring states and extra-regional states.According to studies, refugees are another group that is vulnerable to trafficking because of their desperate situa tions. In spite of South Africa having a modernized constitution assures gender equality and rampart of human rights, gender discrimination has not stopped making women susceptible to traffickers. For South Africa, the apartheid regime legacy is playing a great part in encouraging human trafficking and has to be deconstructed for this trade to stop. on the dot like most countries, South Africa is however put in place legislation and policy that leave behind ensure a continued established of a system that go out comply with international norms and standards and reinforce responses that are locally and culturally appropriate. The country is however making efforts to curb this internationally prohibited trade. South Africa continues to participate in congresses and campaigns against human and child trafficking such as the First World Congress against technical Sexual Exploitation of Children in capital of Sweden in 1996.The country has also participated in the Terres des Hommes I nternational Campaign against Child Trafficking which was launched in the year 2001 under Graca Machel and Desmond tutus patronage. Subsequent to these events, several programmes such as social reintegration, protection, rehabilitation and awareness-building have been established. In spite of the governments participation and efforts, human trafficking still mud a crucial problem in the country.According to Skinner (2010), prevention of this vice requires an integrated and multi-sectoral strategy that deals with migration and trafficking from an overall national as well as maturement policy perspective (Morehouse 2009). This author suggests geographic expedition of an integrated approach to fighting trafficking through rights-based and gender-sensitive approaches to give livelihoods for women needs. According to him, it is poverty that drives the formula of human trafficking and elimination of poverty will help combat the vice.Other countries also report their share of human tr afficking. In Eastern Africa, armed conflict mingled with the government and the rebels of the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) has resulted to abduction of thousands of women and children by the rebels. Uganda is argued to be the supplier of trafficked children in the children. These children end up being recruited into rebel ranks in the Democratic Republic of congo and Sudan (other areas experiencing armed conflicts).In West and Central Africa, vi forms of child trafficking have been identified. They include abduction, swelled poor parents money with the promise that their children will be well taken care of, bonded placement of children as re payment for debt, payment for a token sum for a certain duration, or as open items, enrolment of the child by the parents for a fee by an agent for some work, usually domestic and deception of parents that they are enrolling their children for school, training or trade (Coluccello & Massey 2007)..Ghana, Burkinafaso, Benin, Togo and Mauritan ia are the main sources of child labour in the region. These are taken to Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Congo and Equatorial Guinea as domestic workers. Togolese girls are often trafficked into domestic markets while the boys are trafficked into agricultural work. In this region, poverty and ignorance played the greatest position as parents are either deceived that they are enrolling their children to school or paid some amount to hire their children out (.A considerable amount of Ghanaian women and children are often trafficked in the neighbouring countries for prostitution (Anarfi 1998). Most women in this region are trafficked to Europe where they are forced into prostitution. Italy, Spain, France, Germany, The UK, Sweden, UAE and Saudi Arabia are particularly known as destinations for trafficking women for prostitution and pornography (Anarfi 1998). Senegal is reported to be both a source as well as transit country for trafficking of women to South Africa, the Gulf States and Eu rope for prostitution.It is also a reported to be a destination country for children trafficked from Guinea Conakry and Mali. Women from Liberia, a war-torn country are forced to work as prostitutes in Mali while others are trafficked to Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and France. Mali is also reported to be a transit country for trafficking women from African Anglophone countries to Europe. Most of these women end up working in brothels abroad.